Valiant Serugo loses but must not despair
Aug 13, 2008
UGANDA is understandably distraught after boxer Ronald Serugo’s loss to<br>Purevdorj Serdamba. Boxing, which has yielded four of Uganda’s six Olympic medals, is Uganda’s most successful sport. A preliminary loss to some unknown Mongolian certainly won’t go down well in the Pearl of Africa.
By James Bakama
UGANDA is understandably distraught after boxer Ronald Serugo’s loss to
Purevdorj Serdamba. Boxing, which has yielded four of Uganda’s six Olympic medals, is Uganda’s most successful sport. A preliminary loss to some unknown Mongolian certainly won’t go down well in the Pearl of Africa.
However, I’m one of those who feel the Kyambogo University Industrial Art student gave a good account of himself.
Had there been a bit of straight computer scoring –– particularly in the fourth round –– our fighter would have probably even taken the day.
The Serugo I saw yesterday was very different from the pugilist I covered a year ago at the All Africa Games in Algeria.
This was a more polished fighter. He was not only hitting harder, but also had better movement. Cuban coach Jimenez Gonzalez has definitely earned his pay.
To understand the Serugo situation, you have to take a glimpse into his four-month preparation.
With only seven international fights to show, Serugo mounted the Beijing ring as most the most un-exposed fighter at the Games.
It’s this inexperience that explains his shaky start to yesterday’s fight. Richer international ring mileage wouldn’t have had him trailing 6-0 by the end of the second round.
Serugo’s training provides further insight into the odds he faced. As his opponents fine-tuned in first-class gyms, he was under trees punching cut car tyres improvised as a substitute for tattered punch bags.
There’s also the time factor. While Serugo only got onto the Beijing trail in 2007, other fighters began a deliberate and well planned program for the Games years earlier.
You would have seen an even sharper Serugo if Uganda had entered him the Africa Championship and pre-Olympic qualifier. All countries that had a serious stake in the Games fielded teams in the latter.
Serugo’s story turned comical when it suddenly dawned on the Ugandan contingent in Beijing that coach Gonzalez required an assistant.
The role was therefore enthusiastically taken up by team manager Justin Ligyalingi. The National Council of Sports (NCS) official conceded that he hastily had to make an attempt at getting to grips with the sport by attending as many fights as possible.
An assistant is as important as a coach. As the lead coach is concentrating on the fight proper, the deputy is supposed to coordinate events right from monitoring the scoreboard, picking what his senior might miss from the fight to ensuring that all the boxer’s requirements are in place.
That’s quite demanding thus the need for someone well-grounded in the sweet science and not a cricket coach!
Interestingly, there were more officials than athletes on Uganda’s team.
To the the Olympic committee, having a commissioner and his assistant in Beijing was more important than an extra boxing coach!
UGANDA is understandably distraught after boxer Ronald Serugo’s loss to
Purevdorj Serdamba. Boxing, which has yielded four of Uganda’s six Olympic medals, is Uganda’s most successful sport. A preliminary loss to some unknown Mongolian certainly won’t go down well in the Pearl of Africa.
However, I’m one of those who feel the Kyambogo University Industrial Art student gave a good account of himself.
Had there been a bit of straight computer scoring –– particularly in the fourth round –– our fighter would have probably even taken the day.
The Serugo I saw yesterday was very different from the pugilist I covered a year ago at the All Africa Games in Algeria.
This was a more polished fighter. He was not only hitting harder, but also had better movement. Cuban coach Jimenez Gonzalez has definitely earned his pay.
To understand the Serugo situation, you have to take a glimpse into his four-month preparation.
With only seven international fights to show, Serugo mounted the Beijing ring as most the most un-exposed fighter at the Games.
It’s this inexperience that explains his shaky start to yesterday’s fight. Richer international ring mileage wouldn’t have had him trailing 6-0 by the end of the second round.
Serugo’s training provides further insight into the odds he faced. As his opponents fine-tuned in first-class gyms, he was under trees punching cut car tyres improvised as a substitute for tattered punch bags.
There’s also the time factor. While Serugo only got onto the Beijing trail in 2007, other fighters began a deliberate and well planned program for the Games years earlier.
You would have seen an even sharper Serugo if Uganda had entered him the Africa Championship and pre-Olympic qualifier. All countries that had a serious stake in the Games fielded teams in the latter.
Serugo’s story turned comical when it suddenly dawned on the Ugandan contingent in Beijing that coach Gonzalez required an assistant.
The role was therefore enthusiastically taken up by team manager Justin Ligyalingi. The National Council of Sports (NCS) official conceded that he hastily had to make an attempt at getting to grips with the sport by attending as many fights as possible.
An assistant is as important as a coach. As the lead coach is concentrating on the fight proper, the deputy is supposed to coordinate events right from monitoring the scoreboard, picking what his senior might miss from the fight to ensuring that all the boxer’s requirements are in place.
That’s quite demanding thus the need for someone well-grounded in the sweet science and not a cricket coach!
Interestingly, there were more officials than athletes on Uganda’s team.
To the the Olympic committee, having a commissioner and his assistant in Beijing was more important than an extra boxing coach!