Aging Golola Moses mentoring son to take his kickboxing mantle

By Ritah Tugumisirize

When Umar ‘The Pain’ Semata condemned vocal kickboxer Moses Golola to his first loss to an East or Central African last October, the obvious next step to many was for the self proclaimed hot temper to take some time off and reflect on his career, but this was never the case.

One of the first statements to the press even before stepping out of the ring was, “I will meet him at the next turn.” Like many, Golola’s obvious expectation was that there was going to be a rematch, for him to save face and restore his lost pride.

Little did he know that Semata had other ideas. A delaying game is what the Thailand based fighter would deploy.

Close to five months later, I made an appointment with Golola to find some answers on where he is with his career and how far with the rematch.

His Golola Academy in Lugoba Jinja Kalooli, Kawempe was our meeting place. Upon arrival at the not so colourful place, clad in black trainers and yellow vest, Golola walks out of his small office in one of the corners of the facility, with his signature jug of porridge in his right hand. He walks to me while he sips on his favourite drink.

Next to a red punching bag hanging in the centre of the plot is a small boy in his early tens struggling to get his little boxing gloves on.

I later learn, it's Golola’s son Martin Kaweesi. I quickly pick interest in the young lad.

“So what are you doing to do with those gloves?” I ask. “Am going to train with my dad” the little boy responded. I was intrigued.

Immediately the dad jumps in and starts sparring with the boy. After about 15 minutes of me watching and enjoying this dad and son show, the kick boxer sits with me for an interview.

Sat on a big car tyre, the yellow vest off and his six pack and masculine body ‘glaring’ at me, the motor mouth fighter first sips his porridge delightedly before he responds to my first question about his re match with Semata.

“My team approached Semata for a rematch, but I was shocked when he said that he can only accept a rematch after three years! Really! What does he fear? he added...’If he is a world champion like he says, why doeshe fear me? I can’t wait for three years, that is why am training my son, maybe he will beat him for me."

The son is as vocal as the father. When I asked this 12-year-old what he says about his dad’s statements, he went, “I am Martin Kaweesi, the son of the champion, Golola Moses, I train with daddy everyday, Semata watch out, am on my way,” as he immediately turns to the punching bag next to him and throws some rapid punches and kicks. Just like the father.

Back to the national champion, Golola who acknowledged that he is in the evening of his career, has a retirement plan in place. The movie industry is where he wants to go after quitting the sport.

“ I want to retire in the faces of Ugandans. I can’t be a kickboxer when I turn 50 but I can act. I have watched Don Yen, Jet lee, Steven Segal, Jackie Chan etc, they have never been champions but they do action movies, how about me who has been a champion?”

He also revealed his intentions to do a sports management course which he believes will help him manage his academy and empire better.

“Since I am focusing on training young boys and girls, I want to do a sports management course, which I believe will help me run the Golola Vocational Training Institute better.”