Coach Maina confident ‘Hit Squad’ will deliver

Boxing coaches Patrick Maina (right) and David Munuhe at Madison Square Gardens, Nakuru on July 14, 2016. PHOTO | FILE |

What you need to know:

  • A total of 34 countries took part in the two-week tournament in Delhi.
  • Fly weight Mohammed Ali, also making his debut, put up a gallant fight before falling in opening stages of the tourney.

Kenya’s “Hit Squad” tour of duty to New Delhi, India last month where they got a baptismal of friendly fire was a big learning lesson ahead of the Commonwealth Games, head coach Patrick Maina has said.

However, the veteran tactician is not a worried man and is exuding confidence that the squad will deliver a killer punch at the “Club” Games which will be held in Gold Coast, Australia from April 4 to 15.

“What happened in Delhi during India’s inaugural International Open Boxing tournament was a big boxing lesson that presented me with an opportunity to fine-tune the squad,” said Maina.

A total of 34 countries took part in the two-week tournament. “I now know the weak and strong points of the squad and where to tighten the loose nuts to make sure the blunders we committed in India are not repeated in Australia.”

Maina said that all was not lost and he was particularly impressed by four fighters who were making their maiden appearance in the international arena.

He singled out female fighter Veronica Mbithe (light fly) who was impressive and beat her opponent from Mongolia in the opening match.

“In the second match Veronica was down with a bout of malaria and I even recommended to her to skip the bout but she insisted she wanted to fight and went on to lose to an Indian opponent,” said Maina. Other female fighters who gave a good account of themselves were Christine Ongare (fly), Elizabeth Andiego (middle) and Lorna Kusa (light welter).

Fly weight Mohammed Ali, also making his debut, put up a gallant fight before falling in opening stages of the tourney.

KENYA BOXING MEDAL HAUL AT PAST COMMONWEALTH GAMES
1994- Victoria, British Columbia in Canada

Abdulrahaman Ramadhani (light fly)  -gold

Ahmed Omar “Kasongo” (heavy) -gold

Duncan Karanja (fly)-silver

David Miriambo Anyim (super heavy)  -silver

Peter Wanyoike (middle)- bronze

Peter “Dynamite” Odhiambo Opiyo (light heavy)-bronze

1998-Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Moses Kinyua (light fly)  - silver

Absalom Okoth (welter) - silver

2002- Manchester, England

Kenya failed to win any medal and did not win a single bout

2006- Melbourne, Australia

Black Moses Mathenge (light welter) -bronze

Charles Menya (light weight) - bronze

Joshua Ndere Makonjio (heavy)  - bronze

2010- New Delhi, India

Benson Njagiru Gicharu (fly) - silver

Joshua Ndere Makonjio (light heavy) - bronze

Nick Okoth (bantam) -bronze

2014-Glasgow, Scotland

Benson Njagiru Gicharu (bantam) - bronze