The national trials to choose the final Bombers who will play at the Africa Olympic qualifiers in Cameroon Yaoundé from March 9-3 were held on Monday at the Lugogo Indoor.
Out of the eight bouts, the one that many boxing fans looked out for had Bombers captain Rogers Semitala and seasoned boxer Antnus Mugerwa in the Bantamweight category.
Although both fighters matched each other pound for pound, the showcase had to be cut shot midway the second round.
Semitala started complained for pain in his right fist but persisted and went on the fight, but the more we handed his trademark punches the pain became unbearable.
Semitala, in his early twenties had to bow out and in the process ruling himself out of the final qualifiers as Mugerwa who is based in Sweden made the final cut.
I thought I would win this fight and make the final team to Cameroon but my knuckle started to hurt and before I knew it I couldn’t fight anymore, the pain was too much
Semitala told Kawowo Sports before sharing his thoughts on the shuttered Olympic dream
It’s every fighter’s dream to play at the Olympics, and am not any different, I badly wanted to make the team and qualify to go to Cameroon, from their I was going to give my best and try to qualify, but guess it’s not my time yet
The final ten man squad to travel to Cameroon is yet to be revealed by the Uganda Boxing Federation and the team’s official date of departure is yet to be confirmed.
Uganda is yet to have a boxer qualify for the 2016 Rio de Janeiro games and can make the cut while in Cameroon, the last time Uganda had a boxer at the Olympics, it was in 2008 when Ronald Serugo played at the Beijing Games.
Results from the National trials on Monday
Light fly weight (49Kgs): Mutebi Umar beat Kassim Muhamad
Flyweight (52Kgs): Marvin Omomdi beat Ronald Gayita
Bantamweight (56Kgs): Antnus Mugerwa beat Rogers Semitala (TKO)
Lightweight (60Kgs): Sula Segawa beat Ali Wasswa
Light Welterweight (64Kgs): Tony Mukiibi beat Kimera Shadir
Welterweight (69Kgs): Muzamir Kakande beat David Ocan (TKO)
Middleweight (75Kgs): Reagan Segawa beat Yusuf Babu
Heavyweight (91Kgs): Willy Kyakonye beat David Hayiti
