Day one action at Jamhuri park  by FMU Media photo credit: Innocent Mutaawe

FMU – DVP Ray Kibira goes ahead to share a recap of what has transpired

Africa Sport Clubs Meeting
– we presented our season report and challenges

ASN FORUM
– We interacted with all the member federations and associations sharing experiences and learning from the success stories of other federations

Membership Benefits:
– Access to FIA university
– Road Safety and how we can work with Governments
– Partnering with UN for Travel solutions where we (Uganda) explained the difficulty in access to visas as Africans and asked UN to show commitment to ease of movement for both people and goods (case in point is transportation of bikes to SA where customs has not refunded our bond)

ONLINE ABUSE AWARENESS
– We have to sign a charter to protect the sport, officials, competitors & volunteers from online abuse

AFRICA SPORTS CLUBS MEETING HELD IN BAKU

The recent Africa Sport Clubs Meeting proved to be a pivotal gathering for the sports community, addressing crucial aspects of the season and fostering collaboration among member federations. The meeting encompassed several significant events and discussions.

1. Season Report and Challenges Presentation
During the meeting, clubs presented comprehensive reports on their respective seasons, shedding light on accomplishments and highlighting challenges faced. This transparent exchange of information sets the stage for collective problem-solving and strategic planning.

2. ASN Forum: Sharing Experiences and Learning
The ASN Forum emerged as a dynamic platform where member federations and associations engaged in productive discussions. Participants shared experiences and gleaned insights from the success stories of their counterparts. This collaborative approach aims to elevate the overall standards of sports management across the continent.

3. Membership Benefits Unveiled
The meeting underscored the benefits of club membership, emphasizing access to the prestigious FIA University. Furthermore, discussions delved into road safety initiatives, exploring potential collaborations with governments to enhance safety measures for both athletes and spectators.

4. UN Partnership for Travel Solutions
A significant highlight involved partnering with the United Nations to address travel challenges. Uganda, in particular, highlighted the difficulties in obtaining visas for Africans and advocated for UN commitment to facilitating easier movement of people and goods. A notable example was the transportation of bikes to South Africa, where customs issues required resolution.

5. Online Abuse Awareness and Charter Signing
Recognizing the growing concern of online abuse, participants committed to protecting the integrity of the sport, officials, competitors, and volunteers. The meeting saw the signing of a charter aimed at combating online abuse and fostering a safer environment for all involved.

6. FIA University Graduation Ceremony
A moment of celebration ensued as members who completed their university certificates in Motorsport Governance and Management courses were officially graduated. Notable individuals such as Jackson Jay Serwanga, Lwanga Hamzah, Kees Kagolo, and GS Irene Blick were acknowledged for their commitment to advancing their knowledge in the field.
In summary, the Africa Sport Clubs Meeting served as a platform for collaboration, learning, and progression within the sporting community, reflecting a collective commitment to elevating standards and addressing challenges head on.

Compiled by: Mwambazi Lawrence.

ARC standing after Zambia:
1. Karan Patel 120
2. Jas Mangat 111
3. Yasin Nasser 93
WHAT had turned out to be a Karan Patel and Leroy Gomez affair, with a one second separation of the two after leg1, finally had the scores settled when the Zambian hit a hidden tree stump on stage13.

Gomez embarked on his fierce battle with Patel in Chartonel stage, where picked 20 seconds off him,but was same way rewarded in Bull stage, Patel clinching to the lead in Waterfalls stage with 12seconds.

This sent both teams to high charging, before repeat of Bull stage, that saw Gomez co-driven by his wife Urshlla, painfully drop out.

“Our hearts are ok. We didn’t win it for mother Zambia this time…. But we sure did have fun trying,” read statement from team’s social media page.

After Leroy’s fate, Patel decided to let ease in last three stages,having Uganda’s Jas Mangat pull off some seconds from him, but couldn’t turn the tables around, ending the rally second overall, one minute 33 seconds apart.

Patel resumes the lead of the ARC with 120points, Mangat now second with 111, and Nasser third with 93points.

Hamza Anwar who had bad outing on day one,with a number of mechanical gremlins, and returned on day two under super rally, got his podium finish chances brightened, when Moil’s Yasin Nasser got forced out of event by gearbox problem with two stage to go.

“Good afternoon, sadly we are out of the rally due to extensive gear box damage. Inshallah we meet in Iringa,” wrote Nasser.

Another day two returnee, Tanzania’s Prince Charles Nyerere has a reason to celebrate after finishing forth overall in ARC classification, keeping him atop of ARC Junior championship with 78 points, Anwar second with 60 points.

Crews head to Tanzania next month for last ARC round that will help settle their odds.

Author: Frank Kaheesi-FMU Media

Kenya’s Karan Patel, co-driven by Tauseef Khan in a Ford Feista R5 will sweep the Zambian International rally roads as car number one.
At Free practice of 1.5km shakedown stage at Lusaka Motor Club, the crew was baptised with an early shocker, when their car rolled after kissing a concrete pillar when picking aleft round about turn.
Luckily, the KCB Bank-sponsored crew managed to fix their car in time, returned for the qualifiers run thus picked on to start as car number one.
Uganda’s ARC2 contender ,crew of Innocent Bwamiki and Hamza Lwanga in an Evo9, leave the ramp as car number two, chased by Jas Mangat in Hyundai I20 in third place, as homeboy Leroy Gonez runs fourth,and current ARC leader Yasin Nasser will chase in fifth place respectively.

Tanzania’s Prince Charles Nyerere in an will run as car number six, as Kenya’s ‘Problem child’ with who they are running for FIA Junior African Rally championship title chases seventh.
Drivers will have to run three competitive stages, before first service at Barn Motel.

More to come……

TNRC standings after Tanga:
1.Yasin Nasser 60
2.Manveer Birdi 42
3.Randeep Singh 24
4=Gurpal Sandhu 24

MOIL-SPONSORED rally crew of Yasin Nasser and Ali Katumba in a Ford Fiesta MK2 R5 popularly known as Nemo, live up to their billing inTanga, as they win second Tanzania National Rally championship round.
Fresh from finishing second at fourth African Championship round in Burundi last weekend, the crew only had a day to rest after a delayed flight connection to Kampala, before connecting to Tanga for yet another rally action weekend.
With two special stages earmarked as competitive and were to be driven thrice, the crew played well to their strategy to pick second win in Tanzania with nine crew starters.
The 2023 African Rally Championship leaders and Uganda National Rally champions, firing out from all pistons of their Fiesta, only lost one stage of six posting fastest time of one hour 26 minutes10 seconds.
They were five minutes, 36 seconds faster than second placed Crew of Randeep Singh and Zubeyr Piredina in Mitsubishi Evo9, eight minutes,26 seconds adrift third place crew of Manveer Birdi,co-driven by Manmeet Birdi in another Evo9.
With only three crews seeing the finishing line,and five non finishers, Nasser now leads the Tanzanian Championship by 60 points,followed by Manveer with 42, as Randeep who dropped out in first round ties in third place with Gurpal Sandhu who finished the Sao Hill Forest Rally in Iringa, that was run in May this year.
“Its a worthy well spent weekend in Tanzania with long distance travels from Burundi to Tanga,” intimated by one of happily impressed team mechanic who preferred anonymity.
Yasin Nasser after sealing 2023 Uganda National Rally championship title with winning Bam SMC challenge rally held a fortnight ago in Masaka, is now left with two titles to battle for, ARC and Tanzanian Championships,all left with three rounds to go.
Next ARC stop will be in Rwanda, Rwanda Mountain Gorilla rally to be held in third week of September, as the later third round will be held in October,2023.
END.
Author: Frank Kaheesi- Head FMU Media Commission