Sparks snatches Cadets trophy amid controversy

Muhammad Mazida (Red) of Lukanga during his bout with East Coast’s Bahati Musinguzi (Blue) at the National Cadets Boxing Championship on Sunday. Bahati won the fight by unanimous decision. Photo by Ismail Kezaala

What you need to know:

  • Boxing. Sparks Bombers gathered 13 points to edge traditional giants Police and Lukanga Boxing Club and win the Juniors (15-16 years) championship.
  • Daily Monitor engaged both boxers: Emuria, a senior one student at Standard High, Bweyogerere, said he is 15 years old, born in January, 2001 but he was not sure of the date.
    Akobe, who just finished Primary Seven at Kiswa Primary School, is 15 but feared to box Emuria “because he is older than me.”

KAMPALA. When the National Cadets Boxing Championship began last week, no one gave debutants Sparks Bombers a title chance.

Sparks Bombers, a team coached by youngster Herbert Kalungi, surprised even themselves when they gathered 13 points to edge traditional giants Police and Lukanga Boxing Club and win the Juniors (15-16 years) championship at MTN Arena-Lugogo, Sunday night.

Emuria-Mulindwa controversy
It was not a smooth ride, though and Sparks nearly lost it to controversy. The technical team had disqualified Nakawa Boxing Club’s Rogers Emuria, arguing he was a different boxer, because the original name was Rogers Mulindwa. Hence, they awarded three points to Sparks’ Frank Akobe.

Nakawa contested the decision, arguing that it was the organisers’ error. “I don’t have any Mulindwa in my club,” Nakawa’s coach Michael Komakech said. “And I have never known an Iteso called Mulindwa.”

A 30-minute fracas engulfed the technical table as Sparks argued that Emuria is over-age and ineligible to fight Akobe. Sparks feared that Emuria had a physical and age advantage on Akobe, which would leave them on 10 points and lose the trophy. They could not let it happen.

Nakawa, with only two points had no title chances at all, but were backed by Isaac ‘Zebra’ Ssenyange of Lukanga (who had 11 points) and insisted the boys should box.

Winner throws in towel
Daily Monitor engaged both boxers: Emuria, a senior one student at Standard High, Bweyogerere, said he is 15 years old, born in January, 2001 but he was not sure of the date.
Akobe, who just finished Primary Seven at Kiswa Primary School, is 15 but feared to box Emuria “because he is older than me.”
What was a technical matter was sorted by chief guest Ronald Balimwezo (Nakawa Division mayor). The boys boxed, but still, it ended controversially. Emuria had the upper hand but his corner threw in the towel in the second round.