Hit Squad head coach Benjamin Musa has said blame games and insults will do little to salvage Kenyan boxers from defeat.
In an exclusive interview, Musa implored local boxing enthusiasts to shun the repugnant practice of censuring the Boxing Federation of Kenya (BFK) and Hit Squad's technical bench.
He expressed concern that some irrational fans had turned the national team into a punching bag, adding that Hit Squad members tend to receive more bashing on social media than in the ring.
The gaffer's candid remarks come hot on the heels of a nationwide uproar triggered by Hit Squad's failure to secure slots in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Musa was emphatic that neither the federation nor the tacticians are responsible for Kenya's dismal run on the international stage.
"We all know that we must invest heavily to get medals and opportunities only go to those, who are well prepared," Musa remarked.
"On numerous occasions, we've found ourselves preparing for a short period and competing with boxers who've invested years in quality training," he added.
"Whereas we only took a few weeks to prepare for the Paris 2024 Olympic qualifiers, our opponents began polishing their act four years ago. Do we stand any chance against such opponents? Your answer is as good as mine," Musa said.
He said it was utterly ridiculous for the nation to expect a bumper harvest from Hit Squad's global outings when nothing was being done at all levels to invest in their success.
The gaffer said they had grown wary of ridiculous statements, urging them to prove themselves in tournaments first before being afforded the necessary support by relevant authorities.
"It doesn't make any sense when people say they will support training for a week, and facilitate our trips abroad for training camps only after we qualify," Musa stated.
"They are getting their priorities warped because teams are required to engage in many build-up matches before major tournaments," he added.
He said the trips would not only expose Kenyan pugilists to quality competition but also allow them to train in state-of-the-art facilities.
"The country has not invested in quality facilities, the more reason we should facilitate trips for our players to benefit from the better ones which are found abroad," Musa said.
The gaffer tore into journalists who were quick to condemn his charges without offering viable solutions, terming their conduct as unpatriotic.
"We don't fear criticism but it should not be laced with malice. Journalists should try as much as they can to get to the root bottom of whatever they write about before publishing stories," he said.
However, Musa singled out the National Olympic Committee for praise, saying Hit Squad had benefited immensely from the body's timely support.
