USPA crowns Nabil, Cheribe with Rwenzori awards
Apr 28, 2015
Uganda Sports Press Association swimmer of the year 2014, Nabil Saleh believes the USPA award will inspire him to more glory in the upcoming CANA Zone 3 and 4 Championships due in Angola, May 6-9.
By Michael Nsubuga
Uganda Sports Press Association swimmer of the year 2014, Nabil Saleh believes the USPA award will inspire him to more glory in the upcoming CANA Zone 3 and 4 Championships due in Angola, May 6-9.
On Tuesday, the 13 year old, Braeburn-year 9 student was crowned the Rwenzori USPA swimmer of the year alongside table tennis player Gilton Cheribe, 17, before a luncheon organised for them at Imperial Royale Hotel.
Nabil is on a nine-man Ugandan team that is set to represent the country at the 13th edition of the annual championships in Angola. At the same event last year he scooped seven gold medals to help Uganda finish 6th out 11 countries.
"For about the past three weeks I have been training a lot and I feel ready to perform well," Nabil said after receiving his award from USPA president Sabiiti Muwanga and Rwenzori's Isaac Sekasi.
Nabil was accompanied to the mini awards ceremony by his mum Patricia Isabirye.
"I participated in one big gala in South Africa a few weeks ago and though my performance wasn't the best there was improvement in my time I made during the last year's CANA event in Uganda," Nabil added.
For Chelibe, the award is an inspiration and motivator.
"I now feel like table tennis is becoming a career and the award means a lot to me; It is something I can keep and later show my children and inspire them and I'm glad USPA has made this possible," Chelibe who started the sport in 2005 in primary five said.
USPA president Sabiiti Muwanga congratulated the winners and urged them to aim even for more awards.
"We congratulate you for this feat and we hope the awards can inspire you to achieve even more and inspire the rest out there into performing to their best," Muwanga said.
"We hope with our sponsors we can continue honoring other sportsmen and its our hope that you will continue winning until you become of age to join the main gala,"
Rwenzori water's Isaac Sekasi pledged on behalf of the sponsors to continue sponsoring USPA events.
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