Pugilists, from eight clubs around Kampala, are set to compete in a three-day tournament organized in memory of former national team (The Bombers) coach Dick Katende.
The tournament punches off this afternoon at Lugogo indoor stadium arena. Naguru-based East Coast Boxing Club, one of the outfits whose boxers Katende mentored, are the organisers of the competition.
Kampala Boxing Club (KBC), Lukanga, Katwe, Cobap, Police and UPDF are the other participating clubs. Katende, who coached The Bombers for more than a decade, died last August after slipping to the floor in the bathroom at his Naguru home.
Until his death, Katende was a father and inspirational figure to many pugilists in the country. His last major assignment as Bombers’ coach was the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland.
He was barred from the ringside due to lack of Aiba qualifications but his charges in Mike Ssekabembe and Fazil Juma Kaggwa won bronze medals from the games.
Meanwhile, national team pugilists who are currently in residential camp for the forthcoming Africa boxing championship, are exempted from this weekend’s tourney.
Uganda Boxing Federation (UBF) spokesman Fred Kavuma explained yesterday that the 21 boxers cannot risk fighting now, yet they have final trial on May 14.
The squad will be trimmed to 10 pugilists for the trip to Congo-Brazzaville where the continental championship takes place from May 27 to June 4.
However, UBF officials are still looking for corporate sponsors and well-wishers to facilitate a full team of twelve boxers to the tournament.
Kavuma says they have already secured seven air tickets, including six from the National Council of Sports (NCS) and Stephen Tashobya, a boxing enthusiast and former member of parliament for Kajara county.
mugalu@observer.ug
