•"The idea is to pit our boxers against their Cuban counterparts who have dominated the scene for a long time now," —Musa.
•Musa reiterated the importance of build-up tournaments to help Kenyan boxers jut out full claws.
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Hit Squad head coach, Benjamin Musa, has said their trip to Cuba could be the ultimate catalyst to a sublime performance that has eluded them in recent years.
The national boxing team is in Havana for a 10-day training camp ahead of next year's Olympic Games in Paris, France.
"This is what we have been missing over years to raise our profile," Musa said.
"The idea is to pit our boxers against their Cuban counterparts who have dominated the scene for a long time now. We intend to gather invaluable lessons that might inspire us to good performance in Paris," Musa said.
Musa reiterated the importance of build-up tournaments to help Kenyan boxers jut out full claws.
"Kenyan boxers need to start engaging in such trips to get them ready for major international competitions," Musa said.
The gaffer spoke even as the team entered the fifth day of training in Havanna. Cuba has played a role on the global front, cementing their status as a boxing powerhouse.
They have scooped the most number of medals at the IBA World Boxing Championships, clinching 80 gold, 35 silver, and 28 bronze medals since the first edition in 1974 in Havana.
Musa, however, said Hit Squad's immediate task will be at the Africa Olympic qualifiers set for next month in Dakar, Senegal.
"Our immediate focus is to perform considerably well in the upcoming Olympic qualifiers in Senegal. I'm happy with the ground we have gained in training thus far and our boxers are yearning to go," Musa said.
Musa said they gleaned some vital lessons from their most recent outing at the Africa Boxing Championships in Yuonde, Cameroon where Kenya bagged seven bronze medals.
"The goal is to send as many boxers as possible to the Paris Olympics next year. We took note of the areas that we should work on before our next international trip," Musa said.
Kenya's second Head of Mission and envoy to Cuba, Ambassador Gathoga Chege paid a visit to the team at the La Finca Gym on Saturday.
He was flanked by the Cuban Boxing Federation President Alberto Puig de la Barca who said such exposure was crucial in elevating the East African nation to unprecedented heights.
“I want to take this opportunity to welcome Kenya’s boxing team to Cuba. It's the first time we are having such a significant number of Kenyans in this country, and that makes me proud,” Chege said.
Chege urged the Kenyan pugilists to emulate the iconic flyweight boxer Steve Muchoki who stormed the silver medal at the inaugural 1974 World Amateur Boxing Championships in Havana, Cuba.
“We have previously had Kenyan boxers who basked in glory after training here. I am telling you this so you get to understand that there were predecessors before you and trailblazers a trajectory of achieving glory that you should all follow,” Chege said.