NENEZ BOXING ARCHIVE: Uganda’s bitter dose to Kenya in 1974
On the night of June 8, 1974, Nairobi City Hall was packed to capacity for the first leg of Urafiki Cup duel between Kenya and arch-rivals Uganda.
The Kenyans were riding high having retained the FESCAABA title in Dar es Salaam in May, 1974, to the chagrin of the Ugandans.
Uganda’s renowned coach Grace Seruwagi did not take lightly Kenya’s victory in Tanzania. He was itching for revenge.
In Kenya’a team were Commonwealth Games light-flyweight champion Steve Muchoki, flyweight Alex Gathumbi making his international debut, bantamweight Isaac Maina, featherweight John Nderu, lightweight Kamau Mbugua, light-welter was Kaloleni Estate-bred Raymond Juma making his debut, welterweight George Ambuga, light-middleweight David Makumba aka Bottoms Up, middleweight Mohammed Abdallah Kent then known as Simon Kent, light-heavyweight Peter Dula and heavyweight Fred “Sachi” Sabat.
The departure to Germany of FESCAABA champions, light-welterweight George Oduori and light-middleweight David “Simba” Attan was a big blow to the Kenyans. In Dar, Oduori decisioned Ayub Kalule in the finals and Attan made a meal of Kenya Army deserter Dick “Tiger” Murunga alias Feisal Musante who made four trips to the canvas before Attan sent him to bed in the first round.
“That’s a blessing in disguise for us,” said Uganda’s team manager Leo Mukasa on the absence of George Oduori and David Attan. Oduori is now ailing at home in Busia County.
Uganda’s team had light-flyweight Bosco Bossa, flyweight Baker Muwanga, bantamweight James Odwori, featherweight Shadrack Odhiambo, lightweight Vicky Byarugaba, light-welterweight Ayub Kalule, welterweight Vitalis Bbege now in Germany, light-middleweight Joseph Nsubuga, middleweight Mustafa Wassaja, light-heavyweight Mathias Ouma and heavyweight Livingstone Odur.
Some of the regular campaigners missing in the Uganda team were heavyweight Ben Masanda, Commonwealth Games welterweight champion Mohammed Muruli, Commonwealth Games bantamweight silver medallist Ali Rojo and John Byaruhanga.
Uganda turned on the heat to hammer Kenya 8-3 bouts to earn ample revenge over their rivals. It was a bitter pill to swallow for the Kenyans whose defeat was attributed to shoddy preparations.
The three Kenyan winners were Commonwealth Games light-flyweight champion Steve Muchoki, featherweight John Nderu and heavyweight Fred Sabat.
Fast-rising Muchoki opened the night for the Kenyans on a winning note, smartly outpointing Bosco Bossa. Uganda equalised when flyweight Baker Muwanga beat Alex Gathumbi.
Jeers and catcalls greeted James Odwori’s controversial bantamweight win over Kenya’s Isaac Maina who dominated his opponent for the better part of the fight. John Nderu, a last-minute replacement for malaria victim George Findo, brought Kenya back on winning ways with a classic display against Shadrack Odhiambo.
Uganda then took charge of the show from lightweight to light-heavyweight.
Stylish lightweight Vicky Byarugaba outpointed Kamau Mbugua in a keenly contested bout, Raymond Juma proved no match for Uganda’s Commonwealth Games lightweight champion Ayub Kalule at light-welterweight with George Ambuga pounded into submission in the first round by the relentless flurry of Vitalis Bbege in the welterweight class and at light-middleweight David Makumba was stopped in the first round by Joseph Nsububuga’s cruel fists after two trips to the canvas, middleweight Abdallah Kent went down to southpaw Mustafa Wassaja whom Kent decisioned in the same tournament in 1973 in Nairobi.
At light-heavyweight, reigning African Games champion Peter Dula put up a brilliant show against Mathias Ouma in a bout which could have gone either way and in the heavyweight division Fred Sabat KO’d Uganda’s plucky newcomer Livingstone Odur in the first round.
On return home, Uganda’s team was treated to a colourful reception at the Imperial Hotel in Kampala hosted by the National Council of Sports whose chairman and Minister for Culture and Community Development Major-General Francis Nyangaeso was walking tall.
He said Uganda’s victory in Nairobi had proved they were superior to the Kenyans in the ring.
“Uganda relies on boxing for a place in the world’s sports map,” said a jovial Nyangweso himself a former international boxer.
