David GOMBE
Uganda Secondary Schools Sports Association President Patrick Okanya is optimistic that combat games such as Boxing, Karate will soon return to the School system.
The development comes at a time when UBF President Moses Muhangi called upon for restoring of Boxing on the schools’ calendar.
“As USSSA it is our interest that every child is given a chance to participate without discrimination. We have people who are gifted in Athletics, racket games. So it’s really our dream that Boxing be brought back to the school system and we are having interactions with countries which have students doing Boxing, we want to see how they do it safe.”
In May this year, Uganda will be participating in the World U-18 Sports competitions and Boxing is one of the disciplines which are going to be competed for. Every country wants their children safe and Uganda also wants to be safe but we can only be safe with Boxing as well. So it’s my dream soon and real soon combat games will return to the school system.” Stated Okanya
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Last week, the UBF boss Muhangi stated that sidelining Boxing in Schools has horrendously affected the general performance of the sport
“It is illogical for a sport like boxing to be sidelined in a grass root sporting development structure like schools and then later one says boxing no longer wins medals.”
When boxing was winning medals its was also practised in schools, people like Godfrey Nyakana, Justin juuko etc came from schools like kololo high, Kako SS and went straight to win gold medals in commonwealth games.”
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Muhangi added,
“Boxing failure to win medals is marjory a government initiative, we have written documents, pleaded with administrators but up to now, no one is willing to have boxing back in schools but they are ready to assert that boxing nolonger wins medals in Commonwealth and Olympic games.”
Its now four years we have asked for the return of boxing in schools but still in vein.”
Stated Muhangi
In February, 2009, Physical education and sports commissioner Dan Tamwesigire banned Boxing from the schools’ calendar and since then the game is yet to be restored back.
