Wrangles rock ‘sweet science’, minister intervenes
Dec 31, 2008
WHAT started as a small disagreement turned into a crisis prompting State sports minister Charles Bakkabulindi to freeze amateur boxing activities. The minister's intervention in mid December sums up a year of upheaval in Uganda Amateur Boxing Federation (UABF).
BOXING 2008
By Samson Opus
and Phillip Corry
WHAT started as a small disagreement turned into a crisis prompting State sports minister Charles Bakkabulindi to freeze amateur boxing activities. The minister's intervention in mid December sums up a year of upheaval in Uganda Amateur Boxing Federation (UABF).
UABF has been locked up in persistent wrangles with the break-away Uganda Amateur Boxing Clubs Association (UABCA) that paralysed the 2008 season.
UABCA, led by former professional boxer Godfrey Nyakana, was a group of clubs dissatisfied with the performance of UABF.
Bakkabulindi disbanded UABF and banned UABCA.
The minister then put in place a four-man committee to run activities of what is dubbed the sweet science.
The committee will help prepare for a constitution review slated for January 20. The minister acted after efforts to reconcile the two parties failed to pay off.
Problems persisted even after a
committee established by the National Council of Sports headed by one Willy Odwong received submissions from the warring parties. UABCA questioned the legitimacy of UABF led by businessman Roger Ddungu.
Ddungu's body was accused of tampering with the constitution, failing to hold activities and increasing the registration fees for clubs.
On the international scene,
Uganda did not fair any better with only one boxer qualifying for the Olympic Games in Beijing. At the Games, flyweight Ronald Serugo was shown the early exit.
Ddungu became UABF president in January 2006 a in re-run that pitted him against former professional Justin Juuko.
Bakkabulindi's decision to disband UABF and ban UABCA drew mixed reactions.
Stephen Achiga, who served as vice president (technical) in Ddungu's executive, says the minister acted wrongly.
Achiga adds that UABCA was a group of ‘self seekers' who lost out in the election that brought Ddungu to power.
A veteran boxing official who preferred anonymity says,"the minister had been taken for a ride. This is just a storm in a cup of tea."
On his part, UABCA's Nyakana blames National Council of Sports (NCS) for the mess in boxing.
Nyakana says that NCS played a part in Ddungu's assumption of power.
Nyakana, who is Kampala Central Division chairman, also has no kind words for Ddungu.
"UABF had been turned into a one-man's federation. That is why things are in a mess," claims Nyakana.
On the way forward, Nyakana said a new constitution should be put in place and elections held.
In professional boxing, a number of Ugandans were all over the globe seeking a share of glory.
But for Uganda's most popular and flamboyant prize fighter "The Dream" Ouma, there was minimal success.
Ouma slipped out of the world boxing rankings after losing to unknown fighter Cornelius "K-9" Bunderage and returning back with a win over journey man Martinus Clay. But the win was not enough to turn his season around.
African light middleweight champion Badru "Mr Crush" was reduced to six rounder and four rounder fights as he made his debut in Europe with a mission to be the next "King of Scotland."
However, he registered two unimpressive victories over Romanian Gheorghe Danut and Kick boxer Karl Ozimkowski in non title fights.
Elsewhere, the bad blood between Big Strikers promotion and the Uganda Professional Boxing Commission (UPBC) reached its peak when Celestino Mindra got a fourth term.
Mindra bounced back after his challenger Salim Uhuru was barred from standing after a section of the UPBC constitution was invoked. Uhuru vowed to form a rival body.
By Samson Opus
and Phillip Corry
WHAT started as a small disagreement turned into a crisis prompting State sports minister Charles Bakkabulindi to freeze amateur boxing activities. The minister's intervention in mid December sums up a year of upheaval in Uganda Amateur Boxing Federation (UABF).
UABF has been locked up in persistent wrangles with the break-away Uganda Amateur Boxing Clubs Association (UABCA) that paralysed the 2008 season.
UABCA, led by former professional boxer Godfrey Nyakana, was a group of clubs dissatisfied with the performance of UABF.
Bakkabulindi disbanded UABF and banned UABCA.
The minister then put in place a four-man committee to run activities of what is dubbed the sweet science.
The committee will help prepare for a constitution review slated for January 20. The minister acted after efforts to reconcile the two parties failed to pay off.
Problems persisted even after a
committee established by the National Council of Sports headed by one Willy Odwong received submissions from the warring parties. UABCA questioned the legitimacy of UABF led by businessman Roger Ddungu.
Ddungu's body was accused of tampering with the constitution, failing to hold activities and increasing the registration fees for clubs.
On the international scene,
Uganda did not fair any better with only one boxer qualifying for the Olympic Games in Beijing. At the Games, flyweight Ronald Serugo was shown the early exit.
Ddungu became UABF president in January 2006 a in re-run that pitted him against former professional Justin Juuko.
Bakkabulindi's decision to disband UABF and ban UABCA drew mixed reactions.
Stephen Achiga, who served as vice president (technical) in Ddungu's executive, says the minister acted wrongly.
Achiga adds that UABCA was a group of ‘self seekers' who lost out in the election that brought Ddungu to power.
A veteran boxing official who preferred anonymity says,"the minister had been taken for a ride. This is just a storm in a cup of tea."
On his part, UABCA's Nyakana blames National Council of Sports (NCS) for the mess in boxing.
Nyakana says that NCS played a part in Ddungu's assumption of power.
Nyakana, who is Kampala Central Division chairman, also has no kind words for Ddungu.
"UABF had been turned into a one-man's federation. That is why things are in a mess," claims Nyakana.
On the way forward, Nyakana said a new constitution should be put in place and elections held.
In professional boxing, a number of Ugandans were all over the globe seeking a share of glory.
But for Uganda's most popular and flamboyant prize fighter "The Dream" Ouma, there was minimal success.
Ouma slipped out of the world boxing rankings after losing to unknown fighter Cornelius "K-9" Bunderage and returning back with a win over journey man Martinus Clay. But the win was not enough to turn his season around.
African light middleweight champion Badru "Mr Crush" was reduced to six rounder and four rounder fights as he made his debut in Europe with a mission to be the next "King of Scotland."
However, he registered two unimpressive victories over Romanian Gheorghe Danut and Kick boxer Karl Ozimkowski in non title fights.
Elsewhere, the bad blood between Big Strikers promotion and the Uganda Professional Boxing Commission (UPBC) reached its peak when Celestino Mindra got a fourth term.
Mindra bounced back after his challenger Salim Uhuru was barred from standing after a section of the UPBC constitution was invoked. Uhuru vowed to form a rival body.