Uganda’s boxing team captain Shadir Musa defied odds to lonely book 2020 Tokyo Olympics ticket from direct qualifications out of the 13 boxers that represented the Uganda in Dakar Olympic qualifiers.
The long awaited victory was experienced on Saturday 29th February 2020 in alate box off bout when Shadir outclassed Ghana’s Walter weight champion latery Jersey on annonious decision.
Uganda had 5 boxers on semi finals that is; Shadir Musa, Isaac Masembe, SsemujjuvDavid, Nanziri Catherine and Nakalema Emily, unfortunately they all lost.
Except Emilly, the rest had another chance for qualification through a box off challenge. Only Shadir Musa the Bombers captain capitalised his opponent hence making it to Japan.
The 3rd position bronze was Shadir’s first continental medal after several unsuccessful trials.
The national Welter weight champion missed out in 2018 Rabat All Africa games where Uganda scooped two silvers.
Zebra Mando Senyange the team manager commended Shadir as one of the skilled and experienced fighters on the team though he has been failing to win continental medals.
According to Ssenyange, Shadir has been lacking a few things to make it.
But this time during their preparations to Dakar he humbly approached him.
“Commander i need your help please, I havebeen missing out for medals on several occasions, but this time do me a favour as you did to my colleague Semuju who made it in recent all Africa games” Shadir pleaded to Mando.
“I took a great task to help Shadir, first canceled him to forget the past. All along Shadir was using a boxing style that is not hostile to African opponents.
” I encouraged him to adopt the truely African boxing style of aggressiveness and quick reaction, I also advised him to increase on the number of punches he throws to opponent.
In a one on one intensive training with him on a daily basis which highly shaped him, being the national team captain, he was highly respect by his coaches to the extent that he could even miss training sessions without a reason, but when I handled him in everything.
