By Gloria Kyomugisha

AFTER a two- month non-residential training spell, the Uganda five-man national swimming team is determined to put up a competitive and fruitful show at the Commonwealth Games. According to team coach Noah Sengendo, the swimmers are eager to transform their exposure in various international engagements into medal results.

Gilbert Kaburu
Clubs: Blue Whales.
Age: 25
Category: 50m backstroke, butterfly, freestyle.
Major exposure: Barcelona, Spain World championships, 11th FINA World championships, Montreal, Canada. Achievements: National records in 100m, 200m backstroke and 50m butterfly; participated in the 2002 and 2004 East Africa University Games.

As captain of the squad, Kaburu will be out to lead the team to a good start when he takes to the waters first. Small in stature, Kaburu prides himself on being part of the national team since 1997. â€œI am in good shape, I have been working on my legs and arms and I am determined to strike a medal,â€ pledged Kaburu.

Natasha Ratter
Club: Leopards
Age: 15
Category: 50m and 100m breaststroke, 50m and 100m backstroke. Major exposure: World championships in Canada
Achievements: National record holder in 50m, 100m breaststroke and 50m, 100m backstroke

At 15 years and with two yearsâ€™ experience on the national swimming team, Ratter is perhaps the most promising prospect in the breaststroke and backstroke events. Gifted with great speed and courage, Ratter easily passes the test for an accomplished swimmer.

Ganzi Mugula
Club: Makerere University
Age: 27
Category: 50m and 100m breaststroke, 200m freestyle
Major exposure: All Africa Games, Johannesburg, World Swimming Championships in Spain.
Achievements: National record holder in 50m breaststroke.

With a nine-year experience, Ganzi sees the Commonwealth Games as a springboard to greater heights in his career. To coach Sengendo, Mugula is a treasure, for his litheness gives him an edge over his opponents.

Aya Nakitanda
Club: Blue Whales
Age: 24
Category: 50m and100m butterfly, 50 and 100m freestyle
Major exposure: World Championships in Canada, East African University games in Nairobi and Tanzania.

Achievements: National record holder in freestyle and individual medley, gold medallist in the 2002 and 2004 East African University games.

Aya Nakitanda is relishing her latest illustrious career landmark that has been instrumental in helping the Makerere University swimming team maintain their dominance in the East African University games.

â€œI would like to follow in Dorcus Inzikuruâ€™s footsteps of picking up another world gold medal for Uganda. I believe it would be a great honour for me and for my country,â€ Nakitanda says.

Max Kanyerezi
Club: Makerere Inter-Youth
Age: 19
Category: 200m breaststroke, 50m, 100m, 200m, 400m, 1500m, freestyle 50m, 100m, 200m butterfly
Major Exposure: Islamic Games in Saudi Arabia.

Achievements: Bronze in the 200m breaststroke at the 2003 swimming championships in Dar es Salaam

With a perfect combination of speed, strength and flexibility, Kanyerezi is good in short races and even better in the lengthy freestyle and butterfly strokes.
Kanyerezi made his debut on the national team in 2002.

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By NewVision Reporter

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