At 22 years of age, pugilist Kato Kazibwe got his chance to be called a ‘Bomber’.
He represented the country at the Africa Zone 3 boxing championship in Nairobi, Kenya last week. Obviously, it was a very proud moment for Kazibwe to be a national star, after he beat all and sundry in his light-flyweight (48kg) category during the Uganda Boxing Champions League.
However, out of the 16 boxers that made the Bombers squad, Kazibwe was the only one on the team that returned without a medal. It is something that left him distraught, yet he remained firm that he will not let it define him.
“Inevitably, it hurts when you do not win, especially when you are the odd man out. I felt like I had let down myself and the country. But the good support system I have around me has helped me overcome the failure,” Kazibwe said.
The Kololo Boxing Club boxer added that playing in Nairobi was a good learning platform for him, which he intends to use to his advantage. Key to his future plans, Kazibwe noted, will be working on his muscle build.
Kazibwe was just one step away from claiming at least a bronze medal. But his loss at the quarterfinal stage, he acknowledged, was a result of not having as much power as his opponent, Mayala Tsimba from DR Congo, one of the nine countries at the championship.
In fact, Kazibwe said that he has already hit the gym to build on his upper strength, an advantage he felt his major challengers may have had over him.
Add the experience that Kazibwe has mustered now, events in Nairobi, he insisted will become the forgotten story in time, as he is determined to emulate his 15 gallant team-mates, that brought home 5 gold, 4 silver and 6 bronze.
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