I SAY SO
<b>Katende in for a hard task</b><br>WHILE some officials on Uganda’s Commonwealth Games team can’t wait to be in Melbourne for yet another vacation, national boxing coach Dick Katende is a worried man.
By James Bakama
WHILE some officials on Uganda’s Commonwealth Games team can’t wait to be in Melbourne for yet another vacation, national boxing coach Dick Katende is a worried man.
As his colleagues will be basking in the glamour of a 24-hour dining hall and shopping sprees, Katende will have the unenviable task of being Uganda’s only boxing official.
A horrendous 14 days in the Australian city therefore await Katende who has to serve as coach, trainer and also manager of the four-man team.
Interestingly, Katende finds himself in this awkward position because of somebody who should have known better.
It’s UOC boss Maj. Gen. Francis Nyangweso, a top executive of world boxing governing body AIBA and also former boxer, who kicked an extra UABF official off the team.
You question Nyangweso’s intentions given that some disciplines that are on Uganda’s contingent more as tourists have more officials.
The boxers might be ill-prepared, but they undoubtedly are Uganda’s main hope for medals and therefore require all the attention.
Remember that boxing has won 27 of Uganda’s 33 Commonwealth Games medals since the country first participated in the games in Vancouver, Canada, in 1954.
When I asked Katende how he intended to juggle the tasks, he said he would seek the services of his fighters or approach coaches from “friendly†countries for assistance.
But may be even the one official is a bonus especially considering a case four years ago when UABF sent a team to Mauritius for the African Championship minus an official.
Imagine the dilemma Katende will find himself in, in situations where his fighters are lined up against opponents from these “friendly†countries.
The other option of using his boxers as cornermen or dressing room trainers is also not pleasing either, especially where back-to-back fights arise.
Here, Katende will have no rest as he oscillates from the dressing room to the ringside against coaches who would have had at least 30 minutes of preparation.
Mind you, this situation is very likely given that three of Uganda’s four fighters are in divisions of successive order i.e fly(Martin Mubiru), bantam(Atanus Mugerwa) and feather (Sharif Bogere).
The worst bit of this scenario will be Katende’s divided attention resulting in his inability to study potential opponents.
Perhaps Katende should seek the help of The New Vision sports journalist who will be covering the games.
Ends
WHILE some officials on Uganda’s Commonwealth Games team can’t wait to be in Melbourne for yet another vacation, national boxing coach Dick Katende is a worried man.
As his colleagues will be basking in the glamour of a 24-hour dining hall and shopping sprees, Katende will have the unenviable task of being Uganda’s only boxing official.
A horrendous 14 days in the Australian city therefore await Katende who has to serve as coach, trainer and also manager of the four-man team.
Interestingly, Katende finds himself in this awkward position because of somebody who should have known better.
It’s UOC boss Maj. Gen. Francis Nyangweso, a top executive of world boxing governing body AIBA and also former boxer, who kicked an extra UABF official off the team.
You question Nyangweso’s intentions given that some disciplines that are on Uganda’s contingent more as tourists have more officials.
The boxers might be ill-prepared, but they undoubtedly are Uganda’s main hope for medals and therefore require all the attention.
Remember that boxing has won 27 of Uganda’s 33 Commonwealth Games medals since the country first participated in the games in Vancouver, Canada, in 1954.
When I asked Katende how he intended to juggle the tasks, he said he would seek the services of his fighters or approach coaches from “friendly†countries for assistance.
But may be even the one official is a bonus especially considering a case four years ago when UABF sent a team to Mauritius for the African Championship minus an official.
Imagine the dilemma Katende will find himself in, in situations where his fighters are lined up against opponents from these “friendly†countries.
The other option of using his boxers as cornermen or dressing room trainers is also not pleasing either, especially where back-to-back fights arise.
Here, Katende will have no rest as he oscillates from the dressing room to the ringside against coaches who would have had at least 30 minutes of preparation.
Mind you, this situation is very likely given that three of Uganda’s four fighters are in divisions of successive order i.e fly(Martin Mubiru), bantam(Atanus Mugerwa) and feather (Sharif Bogere).
The worst bit of this scenario will be Katende’s divided attention resulting in his inability to study potential opponents.
Perhaps Katende should seek the help of The New Vision sports journalist who will be covering the games.
Ends