Kenya boxing team coach John Waweru sees Morocco and Tunisia as their biggest threats during the 13th edition of the African Games as the boxing programme rolls off on Thursday here in Accra, Ghana.
"Morocco and Tunisia have a rich history in boxing and have already qualified boxers for the Olympic Games in Paris. However, I believe we are up to the challenge despite fielding a lean team,” he noted.
“We have only four players here but they are very effective in delivery."
The team features Peter Abuti (heavyweight - 92kg), Edwin Okong’o (middleweight - 75kg), Alloys Vincent ( light-welterweight - 63.5kg) and Amina Martha (bantamweight - 54kg).
Kenya won five medals —one silver and two bronze—at the 12th African Games in Rabat, Morocco, and would like to build on that.
Waweru said his squad has youth and experience and believes the Games will be a good learning curve, especially Alloys — who cleared school last year.
The 20-year-old has been the talk of town back home and won his category in all the five legs of the National Boxing League.
“The young man has to learn from his more experienced counterparts—Abuti and Okongo—who have been all over and boxed at all levels,” noted Waweru.
Okongo has featured at two Commonwealth Games and two World Championships and this will be his second Africa Games.
“He is one of the top medal prospects and I believe he can deliver,” the coach noted.
Waweru, the Boxing Association of Kenya (BAK) competition secretary and one of the national team coaches since 2010, said he has a lot of confidence in the team, having trained with those who featured in the Olympic qualifier in Italy a week ago.
“We were with them in camp and when they left for Italy, we continued with training. I believe we are up to the challenge and will disapprove of the naysayers,” he noted.
The hot weather conditions in Accra don’t worry him much since they have operated under similar conditions.
“We were in Dakar for three weeks last year and operated under similar conditions,” he observed.
Abuti, besides winning bronze medals at the African Championship last year, has also featured in two World Championships and one Olympic qualifier. Like Okongo, he is a strong medal prospect.
Okongo said he is here to win a medal and nothing is going to stand in his way.
Waweru said Vincent could make the team to the final Olympic qualifier in Bangkok, Thailand, if he performs well in Accra.
Martha, the team captain, also won bronze at the Africa Championship. She doesn’t feel lonely as the only lady in the team since boxing is all about brotherhood.
“When I am with my brothers here, I feel motivated and psyched up,” she added.
