Former boxer dangles carrot for Ugandan pugilists

Melbourne, Mar 12 (UNI) Besides the Commonwealth glory, Ugandan pugilists will have another incentive when they enter the boxing ring at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre after former champion Godfrey Nyakana offered his compatriots a reward of one million shillings for gold medal success.

Nyakana won Uganda's last Commonwealth boxing gold in 1990 Auckland and the country got a solitary bronze medal in Kuala Lumpur followed by dual-silver in 2002 in the Light Heavyweight and Light Welterweight categories.

Desperate too revive the sagging fortune, Nyaka had offered one million Ugandan shillings for every gold medal won at the Games besides 500,000 for the silver medallist and 250,000 for bronze winners.

''There is need for motivation if results are to be attained,'' Nyakana said.

''I have four million shillings set aside, just in case the entire Uganda team strikes gold,'' he said.

On the four-member Uganda side -- comprising Martin Mubiru (Flyweight), Atanus Mugerwa (Bantamweight), Sharif Bogere (Featherweight) and Edward Akora (Light Welterweight) -- Nyakana said, ''We have a talented side. I am therefore confident that a big portion if not all the cash prizes will be won.'' UNI HSB AY RR KP1223