For any sport discipline to yield fruits at global level, a sounding grassroot plan is a must. This has seen federations and associations across the world set up competitions for numerous national age groups.
Back home in Uganda several sports disciplines such as; Athletics, Football, Volleyball, Netball among others have been doing so with Boxing being the latest to join the party.
By press time, up to 30 schools have so far confirmed participation in the National Secondary Schools Boxing Championship slated for 18th June 2022 in Kampala.
For the schools that are yet to submit their teams to the body governing boxing in the country but are interested, they have until 31st of May to do so.
For Uganda Boxing Federation head, Moses Muhangi, it was just a matter of time to have boxing back in school openly.
“I am very happy that even when boxing had been deliberately stifled by some bad mannered people for about 30yrs now,” a venomous Muhangi noted adding that.
“Some schools continued doing boxing remotely until Tuesday when they called for a National Secondary Schools competition.”
The top six schools will then compete in a home and away league to run until the next National Secondary Schools competition.
Back to the roots
The move is to see Uganda Boxing get back to where it belongs, being Uganda’s most successful sport discipline.
The Pearl of Africa has witnessed success stories from schools competitions such as Godfrey Nyakana (Kololo High), Justin Juuko (Kako SS, Masaka), Sharif Bogere (Kololo High), Moses Golola (Kololo High), late Isaac ‘Zebra’ Ssenyange (Kololo High and Dynamic) among others.
However, arguably the most outstanding feat is that of Tom Kawere who was the captain of Namilyango College, went on to captain the national team plus winning Silver at the 1958 Cardiff Commonwealth Games.
He then become the national team coach a position that saw him briefly train the greatest boxer of all time, the late Muhammad Ali during the 1960 Rome Olympics.
His legacy back home stretches further to founding Kampala Boxing Club, a franchise that has produced prominent boxers like; John ‘The beast’ Mugabi, Grace Seruwagi, Ayub Kalule, Alex Odhiambo, Francis Kisekka, Boza Edwards, and many more.
It is with such rich history that Uganda Boxing Federation has high hopes in the new development. From Nnalubaale Sports, success is the word from us.
Courtesy Photos
