Coach Maina confident ‘Hit Squad’ will deliver
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