Not Ugandan
Oct 15, 2003
MAJ. General (Rtd) Francis Nyangweso is so high up in international boxing and the Olympic circles that he no longer has time for a small country like Uganda.
By Louis Jadwong at the All Africa games
Boxing
Overall champions
1. Nigeria 4 gold, 3 silver
2. Egypt 3 gold, 2 silver 2 bronze
3. Algeria 2 gold, 1 silver four bronze
Uganda two bronze medals
L/fly Jolly Katongole
S/welter Sadat Tebazalwa
MAJ. General (Rtd) Francis Nyangweso is so high up in international boxing and the Olympic circles that he no longer has time for a small country like Uganda.
“Uganda? Do not ask me about Uganda, I only worry about Africa,†he said on Tuesday when asked to explain his country's declining fortunes in the ring.
“The African standard of boxing was very high at the games. I am happy with the African standard,†said Nyangweso, speaking from his base, the 5 Star 670-room Nicon Hilton Hotel in Abuja.
Nyangweso, an international boxing AIBA vice-president, Olympic committee executive member and Uganda Olympic Committee boss, said Nigeria, Algeria, Tunisia and Egypt had prepared very well for the 8th All Africa Games by spending months abroad in camp.
Algeria got a Cuban coach Maridno Cosefe to prepare them for Abuja.
The Bombers trained at Lugogo.
The hosts emerged overall boxing champions after their seven boxers in the final at Congress Hall snatched four gold and three silver medals. Nigeria spent over a month preparing in Cuba.
The boxing star of Abuja 2003 was light welterweight Davidson Emenogu of Nigeria, who capped a fine tournament by hammering Algerian Jilali Nasrredine into submission. The Algerian, who denied Ugandan Sadat Tebazalwa a place in the final, was outclassed, forcing his corner to throw in the towel in the third round.
Nyangweso, also clarified that only the finalists, and not all semifinalists as earlier reported, qualified for the Athens Olympics next year. Abuja has 22 finalists who have got their tickets to Athens 2004.
The Bombers, who sent a team of six, return home with a games-low two bronze medals won by light flyweight Jolly Katongole and light welterweight Sadat Tebazalwa.
Boxing (2 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze) raised Uganda's profile at the last games in Johannesburg in 1999.
Uganda now has to make it to the qualifiers in North Africa (18 places at stake) and Southern Africa (20) if they are to send any boxers to the Olympics.
The only bonus the team has got from Abuja, is that Katongole, Tebazalwa, captain Joseph Lubega and coach Dick Katende have been picked on the African team to the Afro-Asian Games in India next week.
The team leaves tomorrow for India.
Boxing
Overall champions
1. Nigeria 4 gold, 3 silver
2. Egypt 3 gold, 2 silver 2 bronze
3. Algeria 2 gold, 1 silver four bronze
Uganda two bronze medals
L/fly Jolly Katongole
S/welter Sadat Tebazalwa
MAJ. General (Rtd) Francis Nyangweso is so high up in international boxing and the Olympic circles that he no longer has time for a small country like Uganda.
“Uganda? Do not ask me about Uganda, I only worry about Africa,†he said on Tuesday when asked to explain his country's declining fortunes in the ring.
“The African standard of boxing was very high at the games. I am happy with the African standard,†said Nyangweso, speaking from his base, the 5 Star 670-room Nicon Hilton Hotel in Abuja.
Nyangweso, an international boxing AIBA vice-president, Olympic committee executive member and Uganda Olympic Committee boss, said Nigeria, Algeria, Tunisia and Egypt had prepared very well for the 8th All Africa Games by spending months abroad in camp.
Algeria got a Cuban coach Maridno Cosefe to prepare them for Abuja.
The Bombers trained at Lugogo.
The hosts emerged overall boxing champions after their seven boxers in the final at Congress Hall snatched four gold and three silver medals. Nigeria spent over a month preparing in Cuba.
The boxing star of Abuja 2003 was light welterweight Davidson Emenogu of Nigeria, who capped a fine tournament by hammering Algerian Jilali Nasrredine into submission. The Algerian, who denied Ugandan Sadat Tebazalwa a place in the final, was outclassed, forcing his corner to throw in the towel in the third round.
Nyangweso, also clarified that only the finalists, and not all semifinalists as earlier reported, qualified for the Athens Olympics next year. Abuja has 22 finalists who have got their tickets to Athens 2004.
The Bombers, who sent a team of six, return home with a games-low two bronze medals won by light flyweight Jolly Katongole and light welterweight Sadat Tebazalwa.
Boxing (2 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze) raised Uganda's profile at the last games in Johannesburg in 1999.
Uganda now has to make it to the qualifiers in North Africa (18 places at stake) and Southern Africa (20) if they are to send any boxers to the Olympics.
The only bonus the team has got from Abuja, is that Katongole, Tebazalwa, captain Joseph Lubega and coach Dick Katende have been picked on the African team to the Afro-Asian Games in India next week.
The team leaves tomorrow for India.