Kiwanuka on COVID-19 situation, Nakalema confident

CORONAVIRUS & SPORTS

World Boxing Federation (Africa) heavyweight champion Shafik Kiwanuka has advised athletes to have a supportive management team.

He said if it was not for his management, he would have probably struggled through the ongoing coronavirus crisis, which has ground most activity around the world to a halt, including sports.

"The situation has not been easy because of this pandemic," he admitted.

"The people who would have supported you cannot do so at the moment. This is where a management team that gives you support in any situation comes in.

"My management, friends and family have given all the necessary help I need to see that I don't lose focus," added the boxer, who is nicknamed the Killing Machine.

Kiwanuka was scheduled to face Egyptian Abdullah Sammy in a Universal Boxing Council inter-continental fight on May 29 in Kampala.

But with most sports events postponed due to COVID-19, the fight will likely be pushed beyond May.

Kiwanuka also believes that the current situation has taught him a lesson on saving.

"I have learnt to save for an emergency. I had started a small business to improve on my income, and if it wasn't for this outbreak, I believe I would be far with it by now."

He urged his compatriots to stay safe by staying home and following official directives to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

 

Nakalema confident of making Olympics cut

Meanwhile, female boxer Emily Nakalema is confident she will put up a good fight at the qualifiers for next year's Olympic Games.

The qualifiers had been scheduled for May in France but due to the coronavirus outbreak, they were postponed by the International Boxing Association.

Despite the setback, Nakalema remains optimistic.

"My goal this year is to make it to Olympics, so I will do anything to make sure I make it. I know there might be challenges in training but this will not make me lose focus," she said.

"It won't be easy but I have the potential to do wonders."

Nakalema lost to Mozambique's Acinda Panguana in the semifinals of the Africa Olympics Boxing Qualifiers in February in Dakar, Senegal. The second phase of qualifiers are her only hope.

The welterweight boxer said the coronavirus crisis has taught her to always plan for the future.

"This situation has given me a lesson of continuing to save. If I had not done so, I don't know how I would be surviving at the moment.

"I have also learnt that, as an athlete, you should have a side business that can support you," she said.

Like Kiwanuka, Nakalema urged Ugandans to abide by the measures being enforced to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

She is one of six boxers that are to represent Uganda in the second phase of the qualifiers. Others are Yasin Adinan (lightweight), David Ssemujju (middleweight) , Alex Bwambale (heavyweight), Cathrine Nanziri (flyweight) and Isaac Masembe (featherweight).

Team Uganda captain Shadir Musa already qualified for the Olympics.


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