Bombers disappear in the United States
NATIONAL boxing team – Bombers — captain Sharif Bogere and team mate Phillip Adyak, have vanished from their World Boxing Championship camp in Chicago. The two fighters were last seen Wednesday evening, according to coach Kent Musa.
By James Mayanja
in Chicago, USA
Ismail Muwendo (Uganda)
bt R. Matthew (Barbados)
NATIONAL boxing team – Bombers — captain Sharif Bogere and team mate Phillip Adyak, have vanished from their World Boxing Championship camp in Chicago. The two fighters were last seen Wednesday evening, according to coach Kent Musa.
The sport’s governing body, UABF had promised to get ‘bodyguards’ to stop their members from vanishing the way a team of Egyptians had disappeared before the tournament.
The disappearance continues a worrying trend for Uganda’s sportsmen. Early this year, two cricketers Patrick Ochan and Jimmy Okello abandoned their team at the World U-19s in Australia.
This is the second time in five years for boxers to disappear during the Olympics qualifiers. Andaman Daku vanished from Amsterdam while in transit from the Athens Games qualifier in Morocco in 2003.
The most famous though is that of Kassim Ouma. Ouma, disappeared from the world military boxing in 1997. He was later given asylum and went on to become a professional world champion last year.
The incident occurred after featherweight boxer Ismail Muwendo stopped Robinson Matthew of Barbados 36-16 to storm the second round. He next faces tough fighter Mexican Santos Reyes.
When the bombers returned at the hotel the two boxers were amiss.
Coach Kent Musa, who had called them for evening training, was shocked when he failed to locate the pair. “I am shocked. I never expected team captain Bogere to just vanish like that.â€
Team doctor John Ntege was equally perturbed - coming just after some Ugandan boxers had put up a good show in the event after 20 years of absence. They received their passports the day before.
UABF secretary Sande Musoke was equally shocked. “It looks like a carefully planned move,†remarked Musoke.
He was particularly touched by Bogere’s unexpected move as the boxer was still a student at Kololo High School.
Bogere, 19, who was part of the Commonwealth team, abandoned his S.4 Exams in order to concentrate on the Beijing Olympics qualifiers.
Sources at Lugogo however, said the disappearance was anticipated. The pair received a flock of visitors in camp before departure last Friday.
“It looked rather a farewell send off,†remarked a source.
Flyweight Adyak of (UPDF) was due to face Juan Vega of Ecuador.
Fugitive athletes
Oct. 25 — Bogere, Adyak disappear in US
May 2007 — P. Ochan, J. Okello, in Australia
2003 — A. Daku in Amsterdam
1997 — K. Ouma in USA
(Additional reporting by Samson Opus in Kampala)
in Chicago, USA
Ismail Muwendo (Uganda)
bt R. Matthew (Barbados)
NATIONAL boxing team – Bombers — captain Sharif Bogere and team mate Phillip Adyak, have vanished from their World Boxing Championship camp in Chicago. The two fighters were last seen Wednesday evening, according to coach Kent Musa.
The sport’s governing body, UABF had promised to get ‘bodyguards’ to stop their members from vanishing the way a team of Egyptians had disappeared before the tournament.
The disappearance continues a worrying trend for Uganda’s sportsmen. Early this year, two cricketers Patrick Ochan and Jimmy Okello abandoned their team at the World U-19s in Australia.
This is the second time in five years for boxers to disappear during the Olympics qualifiers. Andaman Daku vanished from Amsterdam while in transit from the Athens Games qualifier in Morocco in 2003.
The most famous though is that of Kassim Ouma. Ouma, disappeared from the world military boxing in 1997. He was later given asylum and went on to become a professional world champion last year.
The incident occurred after featherweight boxer Ismail Muwendo stopped Robinson Matthew of Barbados 36-16 to storm the second round. He next faces tough fighter Mexican Santos Reyes.
When the bombers returned at the hotel the two boxers were amiss.
Coach Kent Musa, who had called them for evening training, was shocked when he failed to locate the pair. “I am shocked. I never expected team captain Bogere to just vanish like that.â€
Team doctor John Ntege was equally perturbed - coming just after some Ugandan boxers had put up a good show in the event after 20 years of absence. They received their passports the day before.
UABF secretary Sande Musoke was equally shocked. “It looks like a carefully planned move,†remarked Musoke.
He was particularly touched by Bogere’s unexpected move as the boxer was still a student at Kololo High School.
Bogere, 19, who was part of the Commonwealth team, abandoned his S.4 Exams in order to concentrate on the Beijing Olympics qualifiers.
Sources at Lugogo however, said the disappearance was anticipated. The pair received a flock of visitors in camp before departure last Friday.
“It looked rather a farewell send off,†remarked a source.
Flyweight Adyak of (UPDF) was due to face Juan Vega of Ecuador.
Fugitive athletes
(Additional reporting by Samson Opus in Kampala)