UBF rewards boxers with gloves

The Uganda Boxing Federation (UBF) has given gloves to boxers who won medals in the just concluded East Africa Community games.

The team of sixteen boxers won eight gold medals and two silver medals in Burundi.

"We are impressed by the performance of the team in Burundi and we are giving each medalist gloves so that the challenge of lack of training gloves is settled," UBF President Moses Muhangi said.

He, however, cautioned bombers that the federation will not tolerate that habit of boxers disappearing from the camp after international events outside the country.

"These disappearances are affecting the sport negatively because we find it hard to secure visas for the teams traveling," Muhangi said.

"We are not tolerating this habit and we have reported the disappearance of John Fisher Odoch to CID and Interpol. So if he is caught and jailed, do not blame us."

National Council of Sports assistant secretary David Katende also appreciated the performance of the boxing team in Burundi and urged them to keep up the standard by training harder.

He also cautioned athletes to refrain from disappearing because it is going to be very difficult for teams to get visas.

"If you disappear, you do not affect only boxing, but even other sports because when those disciplines apply for visas, reference is given to boxing and they are denied visas," Katende said.

He added that NCS will support any athlete who wants to go for a professional career, but they should go through the right channels.