C-News Bureau Chief
The national amateur boxing team, The Bombers, clinched three bronze medals last Saturday night at the 2024 Mandela Africa Boxing Cup tournament in Durban, South Africa. Team captain Ukasha Matovu, along with teammates Fatuma Nabikolo and Sharuwa Ndagire, each earned a spot on the podium after intense semifinal clashes.
Welterweight sensation Ukasha Matovu, a veteran on the squad, faced a tough match against Hassan Ntumba of DR Congo and was stopped in the first round. In the bantamweight category, Fatuma Nabikolo couldn’t overcome Egyptian powerhouse Ayyad Abdalla, losing by a unanimous 5-0 decision. Meanwhile, featherweight Sharuwa Ndagire’s fight was halted in the third round by Mozambique’s Ferna Macaringue.
Highlighting the team’s success, light welterweight Erina Namutebi, the reigning 2023 African champion, advanced to the finals with a knockout victory over Zimbabwe’s Hildah Kaye, setting her sights on the gold medal.
Uganda Boxing Federation President Moses Muhangi praised the team’s robust showing. “This is a clear indication of our boxers’ capabilities on the international stage. We are poised to use this success as a foundation to secure our spots for the upcoming Olympics,” he remarked.
The tournament, a tribute to Nelson Mandela’s legacy as both a former boxer and a renowned anti-apartheid leader, saw over 200 fighters from 20 different African nations stepping into the ring, each aiming to honor the late South African president’s memory with their prowess.