Lots of money at tender age steers athletes off course

By Jonathan Komen

Kenya: It’s no secret that most world beating athletes emerged from poor family backgrounds to global fame.

And the ‘sudden rise’ has never been all rosy for some of the athletes, which has seen some misuse their earnings in flashy lifestyles and alcoholism and eventually slip back to poverty or even die.

General (rtd) Jackson Tuwei, the Athletics Kenya Vice President in charge of youth development, said the big money subject them to unnecessary pressure from society.

“When they win huge money, these athletes are honoured and even adored everywhere.  With their little education and little exposure and their young age, they become easy prey to those who mislead them into making wrong decisions,” said Tuwei.

“They are exposed to the many challenges in the society, which get them by surprise since most of them were born and bred in rural areas. In this case, even the educated people, who may not be financially stable, cannot challenge the bad habits against the rising poverty levels in our society, where all love and adore them,” he said.

For example, Olympic marathon winner, the late Sammy Wanjiru, led a flashy lifestyle and later died in sad circumstances.

In December 2012, Athletics Kenya rolled out athletes’ training programmes to help curb the habit that has denied many athletes the opportunity to enjoy their glorious earnings.

“We felt that training them on a number of issues such as banking, finance, property management and importance of spirituality will steer them the right way. But it’s good for them to also get advice from their parents, sports administrators and successful athletes,” he said.

The next AK seminar will be held next year.