TRIBUTE: Kurji is cut down in his prime
May 04, 2009
RIYAZ Kurji’s sudden and pre-mature demise brings to mind the deaths of icons like John F. Kennedy, Ayrton Senna and Bob Marley. They were all abruptly cut down at their prime by the cruel hand of the Grim Reaper.
By James Bakama
and Frank Serugo
RIYAZ Kurji’s sudden and pre-mature demise brings to mind the deaths of icons like John F. Kennedy, Ayrton Senna and Bob Marley. They were all abruptly cut down at their prime by the cruel hand of the Grim Reaper.
Kurji like the threesome, was at the top of his game when he unexpectedly died in a crash in the Pearl of Africa Rally on Saturday.
No driver in Uganda has achieved as much as Kurji, 45, in his seven-year career. And all indications are that he had the ability to achieve even much more not only in motor sport, but also in his flourishing string of businesses.
Kurji came onto Uganda’s rallying scene in time to save it from being forgotten. The sport was still reeling from departure of big names like Chipper Adams, Karim Hirji and Charles Muhangi when Kurji emerged to give it the spark of old.
Pessimists had a few years back wrote obituaries of the sport in Uganda with the premature retirement of more heavyweights Charlie Lubega and Moses Lumala.
But amidst all this, one man was determined to write a new chapter. Kurji not only shot to prominence as a fearless driver, but also took it upon himself to financially boost the sport.
In 2006 with new Pearl of Africa organizers uncertain whether the rally would take place because of a cash crisis, Kurji gave the event a timely sh80m offer. His big heart stretched to sponsorship of the Mbarara rally and beyond the border to Rwanda where he also funded the Mountain Gorilla Rally.
“We’ve lost a very generous sportsman,†said Federation of Uganda Motor Sport president David Bitalo.
Drivers Ronald Ssebuguzi, Moses Lumala, Bob Roberts, Amin Lalani and Bux Kasamali (RIP) also have their tales about Kurji’s generosity. In 2005, he sponsored them under the Alpha Rally team in Rwanda’s Mountain Gorilla Rally.
In the 2004 Pearl of Africa Rally Emma Katto, who at the time lacked a rally machine, was offered a Mitsubishi Evo7 by Kurji that he ended up rolling.
“Can you imagine he never asked me for even a nickel?†recounts Katto, whose verbal exchanges with Kurji over who is a better driver, have led to crowds flocking back to the sport.
His business empire included an export company Uganda Fish Packers and Packaging Technologies. He previously also owned Masese Fish Factory, Alpha Dairies and Dolphin Suites.
Born in Mombasa, Kenya, Kurji shifted to Dublin, Ireland where he had most of his education in a 15-year stay. His passion for motor sport was evident at a very early age. He was already driving at the age of 10.
But Kurji’s story wasn’t all rosy. He had his lows that had him crash out of some competitions. In 2005, he lost crew members Bux Kasamali and Muhamoud Khan, in a service car after they inhaled generator fumes while sleeping at Namanga, Tanzania border.
Kurji revealed that he only took up the sport in 2004 after cruising past a rally car on a test run in Mukono.
“I was on my way to Kiyindi landing site when I caught up with this fast moving car. I pressed the accelerator flat and flew past this Levin. The driver never saw me again. It’s at that moment that I made up my mind to start the sport,†said Kurji.
Seasoned motor sport writer Dean Kasasa described Kurji as Africa’s most aggressive rally driver. His seemingly unquenchable thirst for competition in 2005 saw him battle on the Kenyan scene.
A fierce competito, Kurji couldn’t stand being second. “I either win or break the car. My best friend is speed,†he often said. But as fate would have it, the cars he loved tragically ended his life.
Scant consolation though it might be for Kurji’s fans and family, his legacy will, like that of Kennedy, Senna and Marley, without a doubt live on.
and Frank Serugo
RIYAZ Kurji’s sudden and pre-mature demise brings to mind the deaths of icons like John F. Kennedy, Ayrton Senna and Bob Marley. They were all abruptly cut down at their prime by the cruel hand of the Grim Reaper.
Kurji like the threesome, was at the top of his game when he unexpectedly died in a crash in the Pearl of Africa Rally on Saturday.
No driver in Uganda has achieved as much as Kurji, 45, in his seven-year career. And all indications are that he had the ability to achieve even much more not only in motor sport, but also in his flourishing string of businesses.
Kurji came onto Uganda’s rallying scene in time to save it from being forgotten. The sport was still reeling from departure of big names like Chipper Adams, Karim Hirji and Charles Muhangi when Kurji emerged to give it the spark of old.
Pessimists had a few years back wrote obituaries of the sport in Uganda with the premature retirement of more heavyweights Charlie Lubega and Moses Lumala.
But amidst all this, one man was determined to write a new chapter. Kurji not only shot to prominence as a fearless driver, but also took it upon himself to financially boost the sport.
In 2006 with new Pearl of Africa organizers uncertain whether the rally would take place because of a cash crisis, Kurji gave the event a timely sh80m offer. His big heart stretched to sponsorship of the Mbarara rally and beyond the border to Rwanda where he also funded the Mountain Gorilla Rally.
“We’ve lost a very generous sportsman,†said Federation of Uganda Motor Sport president David Bitalo.
Drivers Ronald Ssebuguzi, Moses Lumala, Bob Roberts, Amin Lalani and Bux Kasamali (RIP) also have their tales about Kurji’s generosity. In 2005, he sponsored them under the Alpha Rally team in Rwanda’s Mountain Gorilla Rally.
In the 2004 Pearl of Africa Rally Emma Katto, who at the time lacked a rally machine, was offered a Mitsubishi Evo7 by Kurji that he ended up rolling.
“Can you imagine he never asked me for even a nickel?†recounts Katto, whose verbal exchanges with Kurji over who is a better driver, have led to crowds flocking back to the sport.
His business empire included an export company Uganda Fish Packers and Packaging Technologies. He previously also owned Masese Fish Factory, Alpha Dairies and Dolphin Suites.
Born in Mombasa, Kenya, Kurji shifted to Dublin, Ireland where he had most of his education in a 15-year stay. His passion for motor sport was evident at a very early age. He was already driving at the age of 10.
But Kurji’s story wasn’t all rosy. He had his lows that had him crash out of some competitions. In 2005, he lost crew members Bux Kasamali and Muhamoud Khan, in a service car after they inhaled generator fumes while sleeping at Namanga, Tanzania border.
Kurji revealed that he only took up the sport in 2004 after cruising past a rally car on a test run in Mukono.
“I was on my way to Kiyindi landing site when I caught up with this fast moving car. I pressed the accelerator flat and flew past this Levin. The driver never saw me again. It’s at that moment that I made up my mind to start the sport,†said Kurji.
Seasoned motor sport writer Dean Kasasa described Kurji as Africa’s most aggressive rally driver. His seemingly unquenchable thirst for competition in 2005 saw him battle on the Kenyan scene.
A fierce competito, Kurji couldn’t stand being second. “I either win or break the car. My best friend is speed,†he often said. But as fate would have it, the cars he loved tragically ended his life.
Scant consolation though it might be for Kurji’s fans and family, his legacy will, like that of Kennedy, Senna and Marley, without a doubt live on.