After rocking past Algeria’s Ahmed Abdelrraouf Ghazi on Wednesday night, Kenya’s Edwin Okong’o now wants gold as he prepares to take on Morocco’s Yassine Elouarz on Friday in the ongoing African Games here in Accra, Ghana.
Okongo said after coming this far, losing is not an option for him and all he can think of is the national anthem being sung in his honour.
“ It has been quite a difficult journey and reaching where I am has not been easy. I have been pitted against North Africans from the onset but I believe I am up to the challenge.”
Okong’o beat Helal Mohamed Habib of Tunisia in a middleweight (71-75kg) bout to progress to the semi-finals, where he out-punched Abdelrraouf.
Okong’o said he is not satisfied just reaching the final and wants to return home with the title.
“ I know I am assured of winning silver for now but that is not what I want. My mission here is to go back with a gold medal because it's a long time since Kenya won a boxing gold in the games,” he said
“My target is the main title and I would do my best to ensure I go back with it. The semi-final match fight has given me confidence that I can do it,” he noted. “ I want this title and I will not be at ease with a silver medal.”
Okong’o said he gave the match his all and he will apply the same tactics in the final.
Meanwhile, Amina Martha lost her semi-final bout against Nigeria’s Kareem Shukura in the women’s 54kg category.
According to coach Benjamin Musa, Martha developed a shoulder injury and could not function properly.
She was taken to the hospital in the company of Dr. Bargoria and she is to undergo further scans and check up this morning.
\She now settles for the bronze medal, becoming the first woman in Kenya's boxing history in the African Games to achieve such a feat.
