By Robert Kayindi James
Mr. Universe and World bodybuilding champion Ivan Byekwaso has parted ways with promoter Jack Pemba, the proprietor of Pemba Sports Africa, a sports promotion company.
Pemba sponsored the 2015 gold medalist for three trips to international events in the USA where the bodybuilder lifted Uganda’s flag high when he won two world trophies and gold medals.
Pemba however accuses Byekwaso of being “unthankful” for all the support he extended him during that time, something the athlete denies.
“Right now I am preparing for the World Championships and I’m looking for $13,000 (about Shs43m) to see me through the tournament. Coach Lorenzo (Gaspar) says he is proud to have coached a winning brand and he can’t afford to see me track back. He wants to see me there in mid May, a month before the tournament in June,” Byekwaso recently told a local Newspaper, the Daily Monitor.
The natural body builder however adds that there is room for mending the broken relationship for the duo to continue working together even when he says that he has to move on for now.
“It’s my talent and it is my duty to push it far. Well, I thank Pemba so much for what he did for me last year, but I think, it is time to move on. By the way we are still friends with Pemba and we talk, that’s what I can tell you and if he feels like coming back to support me, it’s okay,” Byekwaso added.
Meanwhile, Byekwaso is preparing for his tough 2016 calendar year that will require him to take part in a number of competitions across the world. These include: World Championships (Budapest, Hungary); Mr Universe (Texas, USA); European Championships, (Prague, Czech Republic), World Cup and Natural Olympia (Las Vegas, USA).
