Kamoga slams authorities for ignoring Rwabwoogo
Jan 28, 2009
<br>ATLANTA Olympics bronze medalist Davis Kamoga has rapped local sports authorities for failing to honour fallen boxing legend Leo Rwabwogo.
By James Bakama
ATLANTA Olympics bronze medalist Davis Kamoga has rapped local sports authorities for failing to honour fallen boxing legend Leo Rwabwogo.
“Rwabwogo’s story provides yet more proof that in Uganda sportsmen only matter when they are at their peak. I think we have the wrong people in some of these offices,†said the former quarter miler.
“In countries where sports is taken more seriously, a public holiday would have been declared. One Olympic medal is very big but what about two?†noted Kamoga.
Kamoga said he was also shocked that other people, who claim to be boxing opinion leaders could not attend the burial.
“There are a lot of people making noise here in Kampala yet when it comes to getting down to the grass roots, they shy away.â€
Rwabwogo collapsed in his Mbagane village garden in Kabarole District and died a fortnight ago. The education and sports ministry, National Council of Sports and Uganda Olympic Committee were not represented at Rwabwogo’s burial in Kabarole.
Rwabwogo won Uganda’s first Olympic medal - a bronze at the 1968 Mexico games before getting silver at the next games in Munich in 1972.
Kamoga shot into the headlines in 1995 when he broke Amos Omolo’s 27-year 400m record.
He followed the feat with a bronze medal the following year at the Atlanta Games before winning a world championship silver in 1997.
ATLANTA Olympics bronze medalist Davis Kamoga has rapped local sports authorities for failing to honour fallen boxing legend Leo Rwabwogo.
“Rwabwogo’s story provides yet more proof that in Uganda sportsmen only matter when they are at their peak. I think we have the wrong people in some of these offices,†said the former quarter miler.
“In countries where sports is taken more seriously, a public holiday would have been declared. One Olympic medal is very big but what about two?†noted Kamoga.
Kamoga said he was also shocked that other people, who claim to be boxing opinion leaders could not attend the burial.
“There are a lot of people making noise here in Kampala yet when it comes to getting down to the grass roots, they shy away.â€
Rwabwogo collapsed in his Mbagane village garden in Kabarole District and died a fortnight ago. The education and sports ministry, National Council of Sports and Uganda Olympic Committee were not represented at Rwabwogo’s burial in Kabarole.
Rwabwogo won Uganda’s first Olympic medal - a bronze at the 1968 Mexico games before getting silver at the next games in Munich in 1972.
Kamoga shot into the headlines in 1995 when he broke Amos Omolo’s 27-year 400m record.
He followed the feat with a bronze medal the following year at the Atlanta Games before winning a world championship silver in 1997.