The national boxing team better known as the Hit squad has received a Sh2.5m boost from the National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOCK) ahead of the Africa Championships in Maputo.
A squad of 29 boxers — 16 men and 13 women — were selected from the trials and reported to the residential camp at Mathare depot on Tuesday.
The team will be whittled down to nine athletes and two officials, who will depart on September 7 for the September 7-19 games.
The trials saw notable names, most of whom are fresh from a vain attempt at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games.
Defending Africa lightweight champion Nick Okoth, bantam Shaffi Bakari, flyweight David Karanja, feather Samuel Njau, Martin Oduor, light-welter Victor Odhiambo, light-middle Boniface Mogunde, middle Edwin Okongo and light-heavy George Cosby make the men's line up.
who was accompanied by NOC-K Women Representative Paurvi Rawal and Executive Member Paul Otula, spoke on the importance of the backing as a stepping stone to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
“Coming straight from the Birmingham Commonwealth Games and organizing the national trials is quite an impeccable feat by the federation and we commend it," said NOCK secretary general Francis Mutuku.
Head coach Benjamin Musa said: “Experience is not gained in the gym, but in competition. We have to be the best in Africa before we’re the best in the world, so our eyes are on the prize heading to the Championship. We were stuck, but now a smile on the face only gives more motivation to the boxers.
Nick “Commander” Okoth, 39, will be looking for a hattrick of titles, having won in 2008 and 2017.
“Hearing new boxers in camp get excited to train with me and look up to me is such a great honour. As the captain, it also motivates me," said the Olympian.
“Last month, we had tough luck in Birmingham, but that’s just how sports is. We’re putting our best foot forward and we are even more motivated having gained experience.”
At the last Africa Championships in 2017 in Brazzaville in the Republic of Congo, Kenya placed eighth with one gold from Okoth and four bronze medals from debutant light-fly Bakari and middleweight John Kyalo.
Light-flyweight Ongare and middle Elizabeth Akinyi, both of whom made history as the first Kenyan female boxers to win medals in an international tournament, also got bronze.
This is the third team NOCK have supported. Others are Malkia Strikers ahead of their tour of Brazil where they are preparing for the 2022 World Championships in Netherlands and Poland and the netball women (Divas) as they travelled to South Africa for the 2022 Africa Cup/World Cup Qualifiers.
