The National boxing team boxers (Bombers) are preparing to storm the National Council of Sports (NCS) over the cancellation of their training camp early mid this week.
Uganda boxing federation (UBF) President Moses Muhangi confirmed the suspension of the Bombers’ training over financial hiccups after NCS extended only Shs53m out of the Shs2.6bn for the April-June quarter.
“Bombers training camp ahead of All Africa games has been suspended due to lack of resources. The Shs53m NCS extended to us was too little to even meet our earlier incurred debts,” confirmed Muhangi.
He noted that a minimum of Shs130m is needed to resume camp; this money is meant to cater for coaches and boxers, medical bills, food, training equipment, access to private gyms for training among others.
“But the UBF Executive and myself are trying to mobilize funds here and there though with difficult as the team is left with only one month,” added Muhangi as he spoke to the boxing fraternity that attended the UBF-UNAIDs joint HIV/Aids awareness one-day camp hosted by COBAP Boxing club in Namungona-Lubya on Thursday.
The UBF President further said that the national gym is not freely accessed by the team since it was hired to a private person –who grants the team permission at his own mercy while the hostels built by former President Iddi Amin for boxers were hired out to a private investor –who turned them into restaurants.
“We tried to engage NCS to allow us hire the gym at a double offer but they kept deaf ear. We need free access to the gym and hostels. We also need money to facilitate the boxers at least to a quarter of what their fellow football national team players get with no sporting achievement
The Bombers were preparing for the All Africa Games due this August 19-31 in Rabat, Morocco. The games also act as Olympics qualifiers
