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1960 Olympics boxing coach Kawere honoured
Kawere (right) receiving his award from Fufa president Magogo. PHOTO BY JB SSENKUBUGE
What you need to know:
Olympics. Kawere was the first boxer from Uganda and East Africa to win a medal in an international or global tournament
KAMPALA. When his name was announced as winner of the ‘Service to Country’ award on Friday night, a humbled Thomas Kawere enjoyed the night’s biggest standing ovation.
Now 90 years, Kawere is the man credited with coaching nearly every outstanding boxer to have emerged from Uganda in the 60s and 70s - including world champions like Ayub Kalule and John ‘The Beast’ Mugabi. He delivered a glorious speech that drew applause at the inaugural Namilyango College dinner awards held by his former school.
“When I was a boxer in Namilyango College in 1944, it was simply for fun. I did not know that so many years later I would be recognised,” the nonagenarian said with a firm gait shortly after receiving his accolade from Fufa president Moses Magogo, also an Old Boy.
“I am truly happy and can’t thank you enough for this. May God bless you all.”
Kawere, who captained Namilyango’s famed boxing team from 1945 to 1949, was the first boxer from Uganda and East Africa to win a medal in an international or global tournament. He told Daily Monitor in an interview five years ago that he never lost a fight in East Africa.
At the 1960 Olympics Games in Rome, Italy where he was Uganda’s boxing coach, Kawere allowed a certain Cassius Clay, then 18, to train with the Ugandan camp. Clay who would later convert to Islam and adopt the name Muhammad Ali is unanimously rated as the greatest sportsman ever.
“Ali came at our camp , requesting to train with us in order to study and gauge the capability of African boxers. We were very privileged to have him and didn’t turn him away, for we also wanted to learn a lot from such a highly skilled boxer.”
Uganda’s first boxing contingent
The 1960 Olympics were the second time Uganda was participating at the global games. The Rome event was also the first time Uganda sent a boxing team to the Olympics. They were Frank Nyangweso, Peter Odhiambo, George Oywello, John Ssentongo, Frank Kisekka and Grace Sseruwagi.
Others in Rome were Gadi Ado, Jean Baptist Okello, Aggrey Awori and Erasmus Amukun, who were all athletes.
Kawere’s legendary coaching career also extended to coaching former President Idi Amin Dada, who once held Uganda’s heavyweight boxing title.
