Kenya's national boxing team, the Hit Squad, will depart for the Africa Zone 3 Boxing Championship in Kinshasa on Sunday at midday.
Speaking on Thursday after a training session, head coach Benjamin Musa exuded confidence ahead of their trip, saying his charges had sharpened their talons well enough to rip their opponents apart.
Musa is set to pick his traveling contingent from the existing 26-member provisional squad, following an intensive month-long selection process at the Mathare Depot where the team had pitched a non-residential training camp.
“We are ready for the task ahead and I'm confident that we shall post better results than last year,” Musa said, adding that they had polished all the rough edges that cost them victory in their last assignments.
The gaffer said they had maximized their time in camp to perfect their art in the ring, adding that they focused on sealing the loopholes that might expose them to the enemy.
“We managed to work on some key areas such as movement in the ring as well as different phases of attack,” Musa said.
Musa also said they would insist on meeting the judges before the tournament to keep abreast of any adjustments to the rules which may affect their boxers' performance.
“Once bitten, twice shy. We don't want to be subjected to a repeat of what we experienced at the 2020 Tokyo Games and the World Boxing Championships in Belgrade, Serbia where rules were changed without our knowledge,” Musa said.
Musa said he was impressed by the great potential exhibited by some of the new call-ups including 25-year-old light-middleweight pugilist Steve Olang who plies his trade for St. Teresa's Boxing Club on the local front.
“He is a promising young boxer who certainly has a whole bright future ahead of him. I believe he will make the country proud given a chance,” Musa said.
Other boxers he singled out for compliments include Isaac Meja and Samuel Njau. Musa said he had observed some marked improvement in the female pugilists whom he tipped to make a case for their selection at the games.
They include Amina Martha and Alice Waiyego both 19 and battling in the same bantamweight category.
