Ahead of the much anticipated ‘fight of the Century’ on October 13 at Freedom City – Namasuba, kickboxer Umar ‘The Pain’ Semata has earned a sponsorship package from Kampala tycoon and sports philanthropist Jack Pemba before he takes on Moses Golola.
Semata, a super middleweight Muay Thai fighter weighs 75kg and boasts of 44 wins, three draws but has been beaten 30 times in the lightweight category.
Golola, on the other hand, is a popular promoter of this sport. He weighs 85kg and has 36 wins in 41 fights. The difference is stark and Semata, even as a World Boxing Council Muaythai Super Middleweight International Champion since June 14, 2013, has it all to do.
But with a major boost from sports philanthropist Jack Pemba, the gap can be bridged. Pemba, the proprietor of Pemba Sports Africa, injected $10,000 (Shs35m) into Semata’s month-long training program in Phuket – Thailand where he honed his talent.
“I have a lot of faith in Umar. He is a very skilled kickboxer and as such this month-long training in Thailand will simply prepare for the victory, which we all know is inevitable,” Pemba said at a press conference held at Mestill Hotel – Nsambya on Monday.
Pemba has in the past extended his charitable hand to former Mr. Kampala and now a kickboxer based in Germany Ivan Byekwaso, rally driver Ambrose Byona and local basketball side Pemba Warriors. Weeks ago he had already staked Shs10m for the winner of this anticipated fight.
