
BOXING–After five weeks of intensive preparations and training the Uganda boxing national team, “The Bombers,” today departed for Hamburg, Germany, where three boxers will compete for top honours at the AIBA World Boxing Championships.
This is the second consecutive world championships that Uganda takes part in after 2015 in Doha, Qater, where The Bombers failed to win a single medal.
Two years ago, the country’s flag to the championships was carried by Roger Semitala (Bantamweight) who lost his round of 32 match to Ecudorian Segundo Padila; Hassan Asuni (Lightweight) also lost in the round of 32 to North Korea’s Kwon Chol Guk; and Fazil Juma Kaggwa, who was disqualified in the Light Fly Weight for failing to make the weight requirements.
Like it was in Doha, again Uganda takes only three boxers to compete for the medals.
Team captain Muzamir “King Kong” Kakande (Welterweight), who won Uganda’s only gold medal at the AIBA African boxing championships in Congo Brazzaville, David “The Dragon” Ayit (Super heavyweight), and Geoffry Kakeeto (Bantamweight).
A determined and excited King Kong, who won Uganda its first gold in 13 years, assured of gold medals as the team departed.
“We have had the preparation that should spur us to gold medals so i assure all Ugandans that we will make the country proud,” he said.
The team was flagged off at the weekend at the National Council of Sports headquarters in Lugogo by John Bosco Onyik, the chairman of the Council.
Uganda, which is ranked third in Africa, took a six-member contingent to the games, including Coach Patrick Lihanda, Manager Fred Kavuma and Cut man Tony Ssekabira.
The weeklong championship starts Friday at the Sporthall hotel in Hamburg.