Bombers make Doha trip after Museveni bailout

KAMPALA.

Three national boxers, one coach and two officials finally travelled last night (Sunday) to beat the deadline for the World Boxing Championships starting today in Doha, Qatar.

This after President Museveni covered all the team’s travel and upkeep expenses at the proverbial eleventh hour. The trip to the prestigious tournament, which doubles as an Olympics qualifier, had almost flopped.

The team was meant to leave Friday but by Saturday morning, boxing federation spokesperson Fred Kavuma sounded frustrated and defeated with virtually no hope, having courted State House for about three weeks. Sounding resigned on Saturday, Kavuma said: “Unless a miracle happens at the last hour...” Indeed it was a miracle. Each member on the team received a ticket and upkeep of $2520 (about Shs9m) in cash.

Delivering the package at the National Council of Sports Sunday morning, sports minister Charles Bakkabulindi stressed the President’s commitment to supporting sports and challenged the boxers, “The only way you can thank the President is by performing well and return with medals...don’t rely on judges’ points, go for the knockout,” he said.

In response, team captain Rogers Ssemitala vowed to lead a successful team by qualifying for the Rio2016 Olympics.

THE TEAM
Boxers: Ssemitala (Bantam); Abdul Hassan (lightweight) and Fazil Juma Kaggwa (light fly)
Coach: Dick Katende
Officials: Fred Kavuma and Catherine Ninsiima.

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