A team of eight (8) cyclist from Kawempe Cycling Club are set and ready to take part in the forthcoming Grand Nairobi Race.
The famous Grand Nairobi Race will take place this Sunday, the 27th September 2024 in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi.
Founded two years ago in 2022 by Cohen Bogere Kasirye, the Kanyanya based club will travel to Kenya immediately after the flag off ceremony due tomorrow Friday, the 27th September in Mengo.
The team will travel by road courtesy of their travel partners Jubilee Insurance company.
Elite cyclists who include coach player Aziz Ssempijja, Willy Kato, Samuel Ssabagwanyi, Ronald Kyakuwa will be part of the team.
In the U23 category, Arafat Kibuli, Mesu Megemeso and Khalid Mukuswabu and a Junior category cyclist Mukisa Salaka will be part of the team.
However, Cohen Kasirye Bogere decries lack of funds that limits his cyclists from modern equipment and exposure.
“The bikes we use are a bit expensive and hard to maintain. A good modern bike that can compete globally is between 50-100 million.
The ones we use here have cost us over 160M. Each bike range between 4.5 (slowest price) to 45M highest.
We have severely faced a challenge of proper medication for injuries since they are too expensive to handle”. Founding director and manager Kawempe Cycling Club.
The same players will be part of the National team that will compete in the Continental Championship in Nairobi.
After being shifted from Ethiopia, the Continental race shall be held in Nairobi, Kenya from 9th to 13th October 2024.
Kasirye further expressed the ambitious move to promote sports tourism.
“Like it’s is a mode of a adventure and fun in Tour de France and Tour de Kigali, I’m ambitious to promote tourism through cycling and a sport.
I therefore call upon the government, corporate institutions, general public and well wishers to financially and materially give this cause a hand”. He added.
Cohen Bogere Kasirye runs the club with other six members including Bukenya Saka (Coach) and Aziz Ssempijja who acts as a coach player under the head coach.
The others are Paul Musaabi (Vice president), Musa Kakooza (Manager), committee members Yahaya Mulowooza and Fred Kisirise.
