It's now all too obvious Kenyan boxers will be returning home empty-handed from the World Boxing Championships in Belgrade, Serbia.
However, their unimpressive form at the global showpiece wasn't enough to dampen the conviction of the coaching staff who still anticipate a bright future.
Head coach Benjamin Musa and his four assistants remain optimistic about the fighters' ability to shine at the forthcoming Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games set for July in England.
Thursday's defeat of the remaining three pugilists — Elly Ajowi, Joseph Shigali and Martin Aluoch — brought Hit Squads' campaign to an abrupt end.
Heavyweight Ajowi lost on a 5-1 split decision to Qurbonov Jakhon, while Aluoch suffered a unanimous 0:5 loss to Lunata Nathan. The last man standing, Shigali, also succumbed to a 0:5 loss to Mexican, Hernandez Marco.
"It was a good performance exhibited by our boxers. Only that it didn't translate to medals. Overall performance was okay," noted assistant coach David Munuhe.
The trainer added: "This is a world championship where the best of the best have assembled. Even Cuba's Tokyo gold medalists have lost."
For the umpteenth time, judges have come under scrutiny over their controversial ringside decisions and Munuhe too wasn't pleased either.
"To me, it is not very bad but our African judges want to please those who appointed them. So they tend not to give fellow Africans points even if they are good for fear of being branded biased."Munuhe observed.
The Hit Squad contingent is set to return to Kenya on 7 November.
