•Speaking on Tuesday, Hit Squad head coach Benjamin Musa expressed confidence in the prospects of his charges to excel on the international stage.
•Musa revealed that the same team will fly the country's flag at the forthcoming Africa Boxing Championships.
Image: HANDOUT
A high-intensity Olympic qualification training camp for the 24-member Hit Squad provisional team will commence on Wednesday.
Speaking on Tuesday, Hit Squad head coach Benjamin Musa expressed confidence in the prospects of his charges to excel on the international stage.
"I'm confident we picked the right personnel with the capacity to make the country proud," Musa stated.
"We will conduct our training both at the Mathare Depot and the VMX Fitness Centre at the Village Market in Nairobi beginning Wednesday," Musa added.
The pugilists were selected after a fiercely contested three-day trial that concluded at Nairobi's Charter Hall over the weekend. Musa revealed that the same team will fly the country's flag at the forthcoming Africa Boxing Championships.
"We have two major upcoming international engagements and that's why we have included boxers who lost in the finals," Musa said.
"The IBA guidelines permit all categories at the Africa Boxing Championships. That means, we will have more boxers competing in the regional showpiece than in the Olympics," he explained.
However, the veteran gaffer explained that the dearth of quality boxers in the upper categories had also forced them to fill more numbers in the heavyweight division.
"We still lack enough quality boxers in this category and it might take time to find the right replacement for Elly Ajowi who has since retired," Musa said.
"That's why we included more heavyweight boxers in the team to create a competitive atmosphere."
The 2023 IBA World Boxing Championships quarter-finalist Hezron Maganga is among those who got a lifeline following the decision.
Maganga, who plies trade for the Kenya Defence Forces' team, lost to teammate Peter Buti who floored him to claim the title.
Maganga switched to the heavyweight division after IOC got rid of cruiserweight. Also making the team is seasoned fighter Edwin Okongo who was knocked out in the quarters.
BFK communications director, Dancun Kuria, said it will be interesting to see how Okong'o performs against Okaka during training. "That way we will be in a position to identify someone who can represent the country effectively at the Africa Boxing Championships and probably win a medal for Kenya," Kuria said.
The weight was won by Robert Okaka who made his international debut at the IBA World Boxing Championships in Uzbekistan. "Okaka has improved a lot and I think he has gained a lot of experience after working with head coach Benjamin Musa," Kuria said.
Musa warned those who made the team to punch above their weight, noting that the final pick will be based on merit. He lavished praise on 19-year-old lightweight Joshua Clive and his 20-year-old colleague Aloice Vincent who displayed immense potential during the trials.
Hit Squad for Africa Olympic Qualifiers 2023: Men: David Karanja (51kg), Samuel Njau (57kg), Ethan Maina (63.5kg), Boniface Mogunde (71kg), Robert Okaka (80kg), Peter Abuti (92kg) and Fredrick Ramogi (92+ Kg); Women : Christine Ongare (50kg), Amina Martha (54kg), Angela Otieno (57kg), Friza Anyango (66kg), Elizabeth Andiego ( 75kg); Sparring partners—Men: Kelvin Maina (51kg), Shaffi Bakari (57kg), Aloice Vincent (63.5kg), Steve Olang (71kg), Glensonton Agade (80kg), Hezron Maganga (92kg), Joshua Clive (63.5kg), Edwin Okong'o (80kg), Abednego Kyalo (51kg); Women: Ann Wanjiru (50kg), Pauline Chege ( 57 kg) and Teresia Wanjiru (66kg).