• Okong’o described his quarterfinal opponent as ‘very rough’. He had to deal with not only the punches but bites too.
• Only reaching the final and winning the title will accord him peace.
Image: COURTESY
Kenya’s Edwin Okong’o is hungry for more glory despite reaching the medal bracket at the ongoing African Games in Accra, Ghana.
Okong’o beat Helal Mohamed of Tunisia on Monday night in the middleweight (71-75kg) category to progress to the semifinals, securing a medal.
“My target is the title. I will do my best to take it home. The quarterfinal match fight has opened my eyes to the fact that I could do more and am inspired,” he noted.
“I want this title and will not be at ease with a bronze medal.”
Okong’o described his quarterfinal opponent as ‘very rough’. He had to deal with not only the punches but bites too.
“My opponent resorted to biting when he realised I am strong. However, I didn’t succumb to his tactics and punched him furiously,” said a confident Okong’o.
Only reaching the final and winning the title will accord him peace.
However, he will have Algeria’s Ahmed Abdelrraouf Ghazi to deal with in the semis.
“It looks like I will have to deal with North Africans only in this championships,” he noted.
He has met several of them and is conversant with their tactics.
His height and sticking to the instructions were key in the quarterfinal match.
“This fight has motivated me and I can’t wait to face my next opponent,” he added. “I will do my part and leave the rest to God. I know it won’t be easy but I am ready for the battle.”
Like Okong’o, Amina Martha, who beat Botswana’s Phekie Bele on points in the bantamweight quarterfinals is itching for the gold medal.
Amina will face Nigeria’s Shurukat Kareem, who beat 2022 Africa champion Sarah Haghighat-Joo of Sierra Leone.
She is not taking chances against her Nigerian opponent.
Coach Benjamin Musa said Amina’s biggest weapon is her aggression although she is disadvantaged in height.
Kareem is a Southpaw and this could pose problems.
“However, we have watched her play and have prepared Amina psychologically,” Musa said.
The Nigerian operates from abroad and could have exposed her to specialised training but that does not worry him much.
“Amina is focused too and this gives her an edge over the opponent,” he noted.
Musa observed that Okong’o can go all the way if his motivation is anything to go by. Having two Kenyans in the semis is enough motivation.