Familiar faces will represent Kenya at the African boxing Olympic qualifiers after the final list of 13 fighters was released by coaches Benjamin Musa and David Munuhe on Friday.
"It's my humble request that those who were not lucky to remain focused on other upcoming events. The coaches in consultation with the BFK did their evaluation based on each boxers' individual performance in training camp in selecting the team ahead of the qualifiers in Dakar, Senegal later this month," said team manager Chrispine Onyango.
The squad of eight men and five female boxers leave the country tomorrow for Dakar where the qualifiers will take place between February 20 and 29.
All the fighters who represented Kenya at the African Games last year made the cut but George Cosby and Edwin Okong'o lost their places in the team to Rayton Okwiri and Humphrey Ochieng respectively.
Experience seemed to be the quality the coaches looked at with Joshua Wasike, who was in supreme form in the national boxing league also missing out to Elly Ajowi in the fight for the heavyweight slot.
Flyweight Shafi Bakari who is seeking an opportunity for a maiden appearance at the Olympics also made the cut. Bakari won silver at the African Games in Morroco last year.
As expected all the five female fighters who were in the high altitude residential training camp in Nanyuki made the team.
Co-captain Elizabeth Andiego, who will be pursuing a second appearance at the Olympics after making her debut at the London Games in 2012, and Commonwealth Bronze medallist Christine Ongare all made the final team.
HIT SQUAD OLYMPIC QUALIFIERS TEAM
Fly Weight. Shafi Bakari.
Feather Weight:Nick Okoth (Captain).
Light Weight: Joseph Shigali.
Welter Weight: Boniface Mogunde.
Middle Weight: Rayton Okwiri.
Light Heavy: Humphrey Ochieng
Heavy Weight: Elly Ajowi
Super Heavy: Fred Ramogi
LADIES
Fly Weight: Christine Ongare
Feather Weight: Beatrice Akoth
Light Weight: Everline Akinyi
Welter Weight: Elizabeth Akinyi
Middle Weight: Elizabeth Andiego.
Officials
Head Coach : Benjamin Musa
Deputy Coach: David Munuhe
Team Manager: Chrispine Onyango
