Boxing Federation of Kenya communications director Duncan Kuria has assured boxers looking to participate in the upcoming national trials that the selection process will be above board.
Speaking on Sunday, Kuria said several pugilists across the country are expected to grace the maiden edition of the inaugural President Jamal Boxing tournament that will run from November 17 to 20 at Charter Hall in Nairobi.
“We are having Jamal Cup from Wednesday to Saturday next week and I'm urging all the boxers to turn up in large numbers and make their case during that championship,” said Kuria.
“This is a golden opportunity for the boxers. Just come out and make your case during the trials. If you win, then the federation will have no other choice than to include you in the national team,” he added.
Kuria said this might be the only available opportunity this year for anyone dreaming of making Team Kenya, given the BFK calendar was thrown into disarray by the Covid-19 pandemic, rendering it impossible to host events previously used to select the national team.
“We are going to select all the boxers who will represent the country, especially in the international assignments that are coming early in the year even before we have the Kenya Open,” he said.
“So take Jamal Cup seriously. There are going to be two editions, one in Nairobi and another in Kisumu,” said Kuria.
The ex-Kenya international defended the federation against accusations of favouritism, saying those raising such concerns were insensitive to the real situation in the country, occasioned by the pandemic.
“We have heard some cries on social media where some people think that we favour those boxers who are already in the national team and, maybe, we haven't been doing any selection for a long time now,” said Kuria.
“We think that is mistaken because boxing, as a sport, had been suspended, not because the federation never wanted to hold some trials but because of the pandemic,” he added.
Current members of the Hit squad boxers are expected to defend their forte during the event. This includes the quartet of flyweight Nicholas Okoth, Africa Zone 3 Championship gold medalist Elly Ajowi, flyweight Christine Ongare and Elizabeth Akinyi all of whom flew Kenya's flag at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
