Uganda: Golola Changes Base

Innocent Ndawula

30 June 2011

Kampala — With just a day to the highly-anticipated World Kickboxing Federation (WKF) Africa title fight, Moses Golola has shifted base from Life Fitness Centre at Centenary Park to a secluded location.

Golola’s coaches Patrick Lihanda and Abdur Nasser reasoned that Life Fitness Centre had become a distraction with many people thronging the gymnasium to have a glimpse of the Ugandan kickboxing sensation during his training sessions.

“The fight has got too much hype and everyone wants to see what type of drills Golola is undertaking,” coach Nasser said. “It has been hard to concentrate on some key areas because Golola tries to put on a show for the fans that turn up.”

The East and Central African champion, preparing to take on Sudanese Abdul Qadir Rahim at Hotel Africana tomorrow, is now kicking trees rather than bags at his new camp on the outskirts of Kampala. “I am happy to be here. The punching bags had become soft for me. Even this tree is not strong enough. Every time I kicked it, it was bleeding. So I had to wrap it with pampers because my kicks are too strong,” the comical Golola said, referring to the rubber tubes that had been wrapped around one of the trees. “I don’t know what this Sudanese guy is going to do.” Qadir, his manager Pulo Okello and a delegation, including the Southern Sudan Sports Minister were expected at Entebbe Airport last evening aboard a chartered plane.

Monitor Publications, Hared Petroleum, Pinnacle Security, Dmark Mobile, Turbo Rayz Entertainment and Hotel Africana are sponsoring the fight. Tickets will be sold at the entrance for Shs25,000 (VIP) and Shs10,000 (ordinary). Several musicians are set to perform.

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