Round 13 boosts Sparks tourney with equipment
Sparks Boxing Club members display some of the items that were donated to them. PHOTO BY
ABDUL-NASSER SSEMUGABI
KAMPALA- Three huge boxes of boxing equipment is an overwhelming donation, even to the national boxing federation in Uganda. But what if it is offered to only one club? Massive.
Round 13, a boxing franchise in Madrid, Spain came good on its promise by donating boxing equipment to Sparks Boxing Academy, a budding outfit based in Kitintale, Nakawa Division, Kampala that accommodates over 148 boxers.
The package includes boxing gloves, headgears, shoes, punching bags, bandages, skipping ropes, tracksuits and Round 13-labelled jerseys.
“I’m honoured to work with you, guys,” said Round 13 director Ernesto Sanchez handing over the package, Tuesday evening. “Make the best of this equipment, use it as much as you can.”
Sanchez said in addition to the new equipment manufactured by Round 13, they also gather used ones from 14 boxing clubs across Spain.
Last month, Sparks’ youngster Ramathan Ochieng broke a leg when he was knocked by a speeding car while on roadwork. Sanchez also promised to tackle the health issues of the beneficiary boxers in Uganda.
Next weekend, the academy will have its second edition of Sparks Finest Championship.
“This is really an enormous boost to our efforts; training and tournaments for another full year is sorted,” said Herbert Kalungi, founder-coach of Sparks Academy at the Blue Wave Mineral Water factory in Kitintale where they train every day. “We can’t thank Round 13 enough.”
In 2014, Sanchez worked as volunteer in Uganda getting into contact with Nasser Bukenya, the proprietor of Nasser’s Junior Boxing Academy in Zzana.
Even when Bukenya, a former national welterweight champion settled in Germany, Round 13 still helps his academy plus Lubugumu Boxing Club, Aggrey School and two clubs in Mbale.
