National swimming team coach Muzafar Muwanguzi is optimistic national swimmers Tendo Mukalazi and Kirabo Namutebi will greatly improve their times after they attend a one-year FINA High Performance training camp in Kazan-Russia.

The two swimmers who leave on Tuesday were seen-off to Russia by NCS General Secretary Patrick Ogwel, Chairman Donald Rukare and USF president Moses Mwase alongside their mum Hadijah Namanda at USF offices on Saturday.

“This is a great opportunity for them because they are going to work with experts which might even help them to qualify for the Olympics, the World Championships and or the Commonwealth Games 2022. I expect them to improve a lot in the 50m and 100m sprints which has been a specialty for Ugandan swimmers,” Muwanguzi said.

Ogwel thanked the parents of the swimmers for not only taking care of their swimmers but also ensuring that the sport becomes part of the family. He said government will continue to support structures that put emphasis on youth development.

“For them to represent the country at this age, I note that the future of swimming in the country is very bright. I want to thank USF for prioritizing the Youth Development program,” Ogwel said.

He said government was committed to improving sports funding and thanked USF for the partnerships that has seen FINA creating scholarship opportunities for our swimmers which is an inspiration for the others.

“We pray that you become good ambassadors of Uganda and that the training helps you to set your own new records,” Ogwel

Rukare said he was excited that their partnership with FINA had started bearing fruit and advised the siblings to remain disciplined and focused but make friends and have fun.

“I’m extremely honoured and grateful for having been selected as one of the representatives. I’m extremely happy that my talent has been recognized, and it is not going to waste; and I’m grateful to everyone who has supported me through the journey and the people who have pushed me to try and achieve the best that I can achieve,” Kirabo said.

“I’m going to ensure I get all the best I can in Russia and I try to see that I come back making some crazy times and hopefully qualify for the Olympics. I’m thankful to my mum, my coaches and the community and everyone who has supported me through my swimming career,”.

Mukalazi who was supposed to have left earlier on, but for COVID-19, said he was now focused on improving in the sport having finished school.

“I would like to thank USF for giving me the opportunity to go and better my swimming in Kazan. Now that I’m done with school, I can now focus on swimming and hope to qualify for World Short Course and the Olympics this year,” Mukalazi said.

“I would like to thank my mum, coaches Eric Kisero and Muwanguzi for keeping me in shape since the lockdown ended and I hope to go to Kazan and see what I can do with the World Champs and Olympics coming soon,”.

Two-time Olympian Jamila Lunkuse hailed the siblings for playing an inspirational role and urged them to stay focused in order to make it to the big stage.