EBB captures hotel
May 17, 2004
THE Ezra Boxing Board (EBB) has taken over White Horse Regency Hotel in Kabale
By James Bakama
THE Ezra Boxing Board (EBB) has taken over White Horse Regency Hotel in Kabale, western Uganda, as a high altitude base for Uganda’s Athens Olympics boxing tournament team.
The new camp that opened at the three-star hotel on Saturday will have the five Athens-bound pugilists, their sparring partners, coach Dick Katende and EBB officials having the hotel to themselves until the Athens games in August.
“There will be limited rooms to other guests, but the hotel will basically be closed down to allow the fighters maximum concentration,†said EBB coordinator Johnson Kasajja.
Jolly Katongole (light fly weight), Brian Mayanja (feather weight), Sam Rukundo (light weight), Sadat Tebazalwa (welter weight) and Joseph Lubega (middle) have for the past month been sharpening for the summer games at the plush Speke Resort Munyonyo on the shores of Lake Victoria near Kampala.
The boxers initially had their high altitude training at a camp in Hima. Kasajja said Hima was good, but Kabale is better. “The atmosphere is awesome. It will be a big boost to the boxers’ stamina.â€
Kasajja says the hotel’s location on a hill is also strategic. “We can see whoever is coming or leaving. And remember it is away from city pollution.â€
ETTB patron Michael Ezra has also offered rewards of fully furnished houses, cars and cash to Ugandan boxers who will excel in Athens.
This is all on top of a sh0.5m monthly stipend for each of the boxers. Coach Katende earns sh1m.
THE Ezra Boxing Board (EBB) has taken over White Horse Regency Hotel in Kabale, western Uganda, as a high altitude base for Uganda’s Athens Olympics boxing tournament team.
The new camp that opened at the three-star hotel on Saturday will have the five Athens-bound pugilists, their sparring partners, coach Dick Katende and EBB officials having the hotel to themselves until the Athens games in August.
“There will be limited rooms to other guests, but the hotel will basically be closed down to allow the fighters maximum concentration,†said EBB coordinator Johnson Kasajja.
Jolly Katongole (light fly weight), Brian Mayanja (feather weight), Sam Rukundo (light weight), Sadat Tebazalwa (welter weight) and Joseph Lubega (middle) have for the past month been sharpening for the summer games at the plush Speke Resort Munyonyo on the shores of Lake Victoria near Kampala.
The boxers initially had their high altitude training at a camp in Hima. Kasajja said Hima was good, but Kabale is better. “The atmosphere is awesome. It will be a big boost to the boxers’ stamina.â€
Kasajja says the hotel’s location on a hill is also strategic. “We can see whoever is coming or leaving. And remember it is away from city pollution.â€
ETTB patron Michael Ezra has also offered rewards of fully furnished houses, cars and cash to Ugandan boxers who will excel in Athens.
This is all on top of a sh0.5m monthly stipend for each of the boxers. Coach Katende earns sh1m.