Hit Squad will use the inaugural Mandela Cup as a build-up for the Olympic Games qualifiers in Bangkok, Thailand, coach Benjamin Musa has said.
The Mandela Cup showdown is scheduled for April 15-21 in Durban, South Africa, and will feature 12 women’s and 13 men’s weight categories, with 41 nations expected.
The event will be vital in assessing the boxers’ readiness ahead of the final Paris Games qualifiers in Bangkok from May 23 to June 3.
“The Mandela Cup will be vital in gauging the boxers ahead of the final Olympics qualifiers. All we are looking for is government support to compete at the tournament,” Musa stated.
Musa acknowledged the daunting task ahead but exuded confidence in qualifying some boxers.
“The qualifiers are one of our biggest headaches at the moment. We don’t have any other option but to put our best foot forward to seal qualification,” he added.
Musa believes Edwin Okong’o’s triumph at the African Games will act as a morale booster ahead of the qualifiers.
“Morale is very high among the boxers, especially after Okong’o won gold in Ghana. Every athlete’s dream is to make it to the Olympics and that’s what we are working on,” he stated.
Okong’o beat Morocco’s Yassine Elouarz 3-1 in the men’s middleweight 75kg category at the African Games in Accra, Ghana, last month.
Okong’o’s victory ended Kenya’s 17-year gold medal drought, marking a significant milestone in the country’s boxing legacy.
The last Kenyan to conquer Africa was Suleiman Bilali during the All African Games in Algiers, Algeria. The feat saw Okong’o earn a promotion from corporal to sergeant in the Kenya Air Force.
Musa highlighted the competition in upcoming qualifiers and noted that a change in tact will be key.
“It’s not going to be easy. African boxing has its own culture and so does the rest of the world. We will adjust our tactics to be sure of securing qualification,” he stated.
Kenya failed to qualify boxers at the Dakar and Italian legs of the world qualifiers.
Meanwhile, Musa said Amina Martha (bantamweight – 54kg), who sustained an injury at the African Games is responding well to treatment.
“She is working with the physios and her progress is good. We expect her back before the Bangkok qualifiers,” he stated.
Training for the qualifiers will commence on Wednesday.
“We will use the Kenya Open to get young talented boxers and bolster the squad. Building depth is crucial. These young boxers will replace our veterans,” he stated.
The annual Kenya Boxing Open Championships started on Wednesday at the Greenpark Terminus Hall at Uhuru Park, Nairobi and will run until Saturday.
