Heavyweight Ajowi pans for gold in Gold Coast

To many Nairobians, Dandora is synonymous with slum dwellings, biting poverty and crime.

But Dandora is also a melting point of sporting talent that has produced world beaters in boxing. 

Dandora has produced Elly Ajowi, one of Kenya’s flag bearers in the 2018 Commonwealth Games that start Wednesday in Gold Coast, Australia.

Ajowi is probably the first person from Dandora to shake hands with Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge. Ajowi, 35, who was born and brought up in Dandora slums, will be flying the Kenyan flag at the ‘Club Games.’

“There is a great sporting talent in Dandora but is going down the drain and end up at Dandora dumpsite if not at City Mortuary,” says Ajowi, who will be fighting in heavyweight category.

Ajowi believes that slum boys and girls can shine, rub shoulders with the high and mighty and also dine with the kings.

“Boxing made me shake hands with Prince William during the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow,” says Ajowi.

“It was undoubtedly the best ever Commonwealth Games in my view, and it was great to shake hands with Prince William.  It will remain one of the highlights in my life. It was a special occasion thanks to boxing,” said Ajowi, who claimed a silver medal.

In a ringside interview with the Nation Sport at Nakuru Amateur Boxing Club before the team departed for Australia last month, Ajowi said he started boxing at the age of 14 at Dandora Phase Five in Nairobi under coach Michael “Stone” Irungu. Irungu, who is younger brother of Kenya’s boxing legend Stephen Muchoki, won a gold medal in the 1978 Commonwealth Games in Edmonton, Canada in flyweight.

“I will forever be indebted to ‘Stone.’ He believed in my potential. He gave me moral support. I want to emulate him by winning a gold medal in Gold Coast,” said Ajowi. “If it were not for ‘Stone’ Irungu, I would probably be a dangerous thug now or even dead,” he said.

The towering Ajowi started boxing in welterweight category before climbing to heavyweight. He owes his employment as a police constable to boxing.

“I represented Kenya Railways in the Kenya Communication Sports Organization (Kecoso) games and that is where Police scouts spotted me,” said Ajowi who joined Kenya Police Boxing team, popularly known as “Chafua Chafua” in 2004.

The former Inter-cities and Nairobi champion joined the national team “ Hit Squad” and dominated middleweight category before stepping up to heavyweight.

He first represented Kenya in the World Championships in Rome, Italy in 2006 while his second major international  outing was in the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, India in 2010.

“The World championship was tough for me but it sharpened my skills as I went on to win my first major medal when I clinched silver medal for Kenya in 2014 games in Delhi,” said Ajowi.

In the 2015 All Africa Games in Congo Brazzaville, he claimed bronze medal.

In the Glasgow Games he floored his Botswana opponent in the opening match and followed it with another big victory against a Nigerian opponent before losing in the quarter finals against a Scottish fighter.

“I was robbed of victory against the Scottish fighter whom I lost in a controversial split points verdict,” said Ajowi. “This is my third Commonwealth Games and probably the final one and my aim is to crown it all by clinching a gold,” said the father of two girls.