Kenya line up bouts to prepare for Commonwealth Games
What you need to know:
- The ‘Club’ Games will be held from April 4 to 15 in Gold Coast, Australia.
- In the 2014 Glasgow Games, Kenya was represented by a squad of nine men boxers, three technical bench officials and two women boxers.
The national boxing team, “Hit Squad” will feature in three build up events ahead of the Commonwealth Games, a top Boxing Association of Kenya (BAK) official has disclosed.
The ‘Club’ Games will be held from April 4 to 15 in Gold Coast, Australia.
BAK vice president Albert Matito said Kenya will be represented in all weight categories from light-fly to super-heavy.
In the 2014 Glasgow Games, Kenya was represented by a squad of nine men boxers, three technical bench officials and two women boxers.
In one of the country’s worst performance in the games’ history, only Benson Gicharu of Kenya Police returned home with a bronze medal.
The rest of the boxers who included Matayo Keya (light fly), Nick Okoth (light weight), Black Moses Mathenge (light welter), Ryton Okwiri (welter), Nick Abaka (middle), Elly Ajowi (light heavy) and Charles Okoth (heavy) were knocked out in the preliminary stages.
The two women boxers Christine Ongare (fly) and Elizabeth Andiego (middle) were also knocked out in the preliminary stages.
Speaking to Nation Sport, Matitito said that the ‘Hit Squad’ will play two top African boxing nations and a European country.
“We plan to play Morocco and Egypt or Algeria and then play Kazakhstan in three build up matches before the final squad of 10 boxers is named early next year as part of our preparations,” said Matito.
Matito who was the head coach of the Glasgow team in 2014 assisted by George “Foreman” Onyango and trainer Patrick “Mont” Waweru exuded confident that Kenya will improve on its Glasgow show.
“This time around we want to do adequate preparations by playing international matches ahead of the Commonwealth Games and make sure we return with at least three gold medals,” said Matito.
At the same time, Matito announced that the selection of the national team will kick off on November 9–11 during the fifth and the final leg of the SportPesa national boxing league in Mombasa.
“The Mombasa leg is critical and any boxer who will miss the tournament no matter how good he has performed in the past legs will not be considered for a national team slot,” warned Matito.
He said after the Mombasa tournament, a provisional squad of 30 boxers will be selected which will later be whittled down to 20 to start residential training before a final squad of 10 is named.
However, Matito did not indicate how many women boxers will be selected to join the national team.
