Final Olympic qualifiers boxing trials underway

Uganda boxing federation (UBF) has urged Uganda Olympic Committee (UOC) and National Council of Sports (NCS) to ensure that a full boxing team is sent to Senegal for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic qualifiers championship.

The last Tokyo 2020 continental qualifiers will be held at the Dakar International Expo center, Diamniadio in Senegal on February 20-29.

According to UBF President Moses Muhangi, the Gold and Silver winner in Senegal will qualify for Olympics while the others –especially Bronze medalists will have another chance to try their luck during the 2020 World champions due May 13-24 in Paris, France.

UOC president William Blick watches earlier boxing qualifiers at Lugogo

“We want to take a full team of 13 boxers; eight male and five female. We are lucky that the continental qualifiers allow us a full team and for us to stand good chances, we should take the full team. If it money, we as UBF, can borrow money to ensure we take full team. NCS should also ensure that the team trains in a conducive environment like football teams. When you look at where the boxing medals are born, you cannot believe. The national gym, boxing ring and other facilities should be provided to the team in time with convenience,” Muhangi told the press on Thursday at UBF offices in Lugogo.

Last year to All Africa Games, UBF wanted to look for money and take full team but NCS frustrated their efforts by not allowing more numbers that they earlier planned for.

A number of 26 boxers were selected from the one-week trails held last month at Lugogo and from them, 13 boxers will be selected to the final team for the residential training after the final trials due this Sunday at Lugogo.

The final team is expected to start on January 10^th at either Kavuma recreational grounds or Prisons in Luzira where the All Africa teams camped last year.

For the first time in Muhangi, administration entrance has been charges with ordinary section going for Shs5000 while VIP will go for Shs10000. This according to Muhangi is intended to create another revenue avenue for UBF.