Forty national team boxers are in non-residential training at Lugogo to prepare for the Africa championships due in Congo-Brazzaville next month, reports JOHN VIANNEY NSIMBE.
The Uganda Boxing Federation (UBF) announced on Monday they intend to take boxers for the Africa boxing championships and Aiba World Boxing championships in May and August respectively.
Addressing a press conference at the National Council of Sports (NCS) premises at Lugogo, UBF general secretary Simon Barigo said they need at least Shs 220 million to get the boxers ready for the Africa event. The budget caters for allowances and facilitation including transport while in training.
Barigo explained that some boxers will be travelling from as far away as Bombo to Lugogo daily for the first two weeks. During that period, boxers will have trial bout to trim the team to 10 pugilists for the trip to Congo-Brazaville where the competition is slated for May 27 to June 4.
To get the training programme up and running, UBF has lined up six coaches, who will also need facilitation. UBF spokesman Fred Kavuma said only Betway has so far come on board to assist the team. He appealed to other companies and well-wishers to join the cause.
Barigo said the gesture from Betway is big relief for UBF as the betting company has since last year provided logistics during tournaments. Nonetheless, Barigo called for more support from the private sector and government.
Uganda only took seven boxers to the last edition of the African championships held in Morocco, but won five bronze medals. And with a strong showing in Congo-Brazzaville, Uganda can take more boxers to the Aiba world boxing championships slated for August in Hamburg, Germany.
The Aiba event is good platform for Ugandan boxers to be scouted by professional fight promoters. Sharif Bogere can attest to that, after the 2007 championships in Chicago, helped him turn professional in the USA where he is based today.
jovi@observer.ug