Two of the seven national team pugilists, nicknamed the Bombers, are assured of at least a bronze medal apiece after they punched their way into the semifinals of the ongoing Africa Boxing Confederation championship in Maputo, Mozambique.
Middleweight Yusuf Nkozeba and featherweight Jonah Kyobe qualified for the semis after winning their quarterfinal bouts against Joshua Cousin (Seychelles) and Tchouti Mbianda (Cameroon) respectively.
Nkozeba stopped Cousin in the first round of their bout on Wednesday, September 14 while Kyobe outpunched Mbianda to triumph 4-1 on points on Tuesday (September 13) night in Mpauto.
Speaking to this website on Wednesday afternoon, Moses Muhangi, the Uganda Boxing Federation president, said Nkozeba and Kyobe have already earned themselves $2500 or Shs 9.5 million each for their effort so far.
“But if they advance to finals they could get $5,000 or even $10, 000,” said Muhangi, who staked the money for any of the Bombers’ medal won from from the continental tournament.
Unfortunately the other members of the team including female fighter Teddy Nakimuli (light flyweight), Edris Mukiibi (l/heavyweight), skipper Joshua Tukamuhebwa (welterweight) and Owen Kibira lost their bouts at the quarterfinal stage on Tuesday.
Light middleweight Isaac Zebra Ssenyange Junior lost to Merven Clair of Mauritius on Monday (September 12) in the opening round.
On a light note, the Bombers have showed improved performance compared to their show at the last month’s Commonweath Games in England where they won only one bronze, through Teddy Nakimuli.
