• “The programme is well spread. We have junior boxers from as far as Busia and Vihiga counties. I am sure things will come together soon,” he noted.
• Musa said a lot needs to change to challenge their North African opponents.
Image: HANDOUT
The national boxing team is in transition and results from the African Games will not mean much, says coach Benjamin Musa.
“Like anyone else, we want to win medals but our main focus is on transitioning the team and focusing on the 2026 Commonwealth and 2028 Olympic Games,” noted Musa.
The previous generation led by Nick ‘Commander’ Okoth and Elly Ajowi overstayed, leading to Hit Squad's current situation.
“We may have lost a whole generation along the way. We have no choice but to start all over again. We are putting structures in place and will have all age groups covered,” he noted
They have covered 60 per cent of the transition programme.
“The programme is well spread. We have junior boxers from as far as Busia and Vihiga counties. I am sure things will come together soon,” he noted.
Their biggest hurdle is lack of exposure.
“We have never been under-represented in the African Games like this time. This hurts the boxers," said Musa. “We have four boxers — three men and one woman."
"We lost the first fight after Peter Abuti fell to Nigeria’s African Games 92kg champion Adams Laura. The only woman in the team, Amina Martha, is in the quarters after beating Ghana’s Apew Sarah in the 52-54kg bantamweight category."
The 20-year-old Vincent Alloys was scheduled to fight last evening.
He said the only way for them to revive the old good days in Kenyan boxing is by transitioning and putting
Only proper structures will revive Kenya boxing. They risk missing out on the Paris Olympic Games in August. The last Olympic qualifier is scheduled for Bangkok, Thailand.
“We will do our best and see whether we can field one or two boxers but as it is, things are not looking up,” he noted.
Musa said a lot needs to change to challenge their North African opponents.
“Boxing is a full-time job for North Africans, while in Kenya it is part-time. For this to change, we need these boxers at our disposal full-time,” he added.
Regular international exposure will boost Kenyan standards.
Musa explained the importance of the African Games for boxers to test themselves ahead of the Commonwealth and Olympic Games.
Musa said few entries in the women's competition have seen some rise to the podium without throwing a punch. A chance missed for Kenyan women.
"If we had more women boxers here, we would have returned home with several medals,” he added.
Kenya was represented by 11 boxers — five men and six women — at the 2019 edition of the games in Morocco. They won a silver and three bronze medals.