By Leonard Kamugisha Akida,
KAMPALA:
The Kabalega National Rally Championship (NRC5) champion, Rajiv Ruparelia has disclosed plans to uplift young talents in the motor rally sport in Uganda.
“That is a good question, we are waiting for the potential sponsors to get on board, if the sponsorship goes through we shall pick the most talented youth driver and buy a car for him under Rajiv Ruparelia Rally Team,” Rajiv Ruparelia said while responding to a question asked to him by Parrots UG reporter on motives to support raising talents.
He made the remarks on Sunday evening while speaking to Journalists at a function to celebrate his victory, held at Kabira country Club Kampala.
Rajiv Ruparelia, also son to popular businessman Sudhir Ruparelia, on Saturday merged the winner of this year’s Kabalega Rally Edition at the NRC, Fifth round held in Hoima and Kikube districts.
The VW Polo cruiser attributed his win to the pre-game preparations that were put in place by the technical team that have brought him to this memorable victory. He further expressed preparedness for the forthcoming rallies.
“We are ready to go for it, this victory shows that we have the ability, now what’s important is to make this ability consistent and when this ability stays consistent, I don’t thin there is anybody who can challenge us in this country,” he added.
Rajiv however expressed disappointments in the delays of releasing motor rally Calendars by the Federation of Motor Rally Sports Club in Uganda. According to him, the delays affect the drivers on getting sponsors to fund their sporting activities.
“When you look at Kenya and Rwanda, the calendars have been released. But, In Uganda our calendar has not been released. So, how do you go to the sponsors if you do not know what events are potentially there for us?” Rhetoric Rajiv asked.
He appealed to the regulators (FMRSC-Uganda) to release a provisional calendar very fast so as by the end of November they are able to release out a gazetted calendar something he believes will help drivers seek for sponsorships.
Similarly, Rajiv Ruparelia has urged government to reopen motor rally as it is a case in other sports categories such as Football, basketball among others.
“Everybody is opening up in sports with the SOPs and the guidelines being followed, I do not see any issue that is stopping us from going forward. We need to learn to live with COVID and not being suppressed by COVID as human beings.” Rajiv Ruparelia said.
About the Motor Rally
The highly competitive one day motor rally popularly known as the Kabalega Motor Rally 2021, was a one day drive in the districts of Hoima Oil City and Kikube.
It brought together different drivers from the Rally Race but as always, there must be one winner. Rajiv Ruparelia and Enoch Olinga sealed a fantastic performance to win the Kabalega Rally. They claimed six stage wins in what was a seamless drive to seal the victory 45 seconds ahead of Duncan Mubiru and Musa Nsubuga who became second.
Ronald Sebuguzi and Anthony Mugambwa registered a good outing in their first local event this year, sealing the podium in third position. Omar Mayanja and Hussein Mukuye finished fourth overall. The position places them 90 points behind championship leader Duncan Mubiru, with a slim chance at the title.
Hassan Alwi and James Mwangi settled for fifth position overall to maintain their second position on the NRC championship but with a big 70 points margin behind Mubiru. Fred Busulwa and Joseph Bongole finished sixth overall.
In the two-wheel-drive category, Ibrahim Lubega registered another victory to have one hand on the category title. Godfrey Nsereko came second followed by Najib Sempijja.
According to the regulator, the next and final round of the championship will head to Jinja on 26-28 November.
