•Musa said the 29 selected pugilists will report for a week-long training camp at the Mathare Depot in Nairobi on August 30 ahead of their trip on September 7.
•Headlining the star-studded list is seasoned captain Nick Okoth who has constantly featured in major global shows in recent months.
Image: HANDOUT
Hit Squad head coach, Benjamin Musa, reckons he has picked the right personnel to gun for titles at the forthcoming African Amateur Boxing Championships in Maputo, Mozambique.
Musa made his observations following a successful three-day National Boxing Championship held at the Kaloleni Social Hall in Nairobi over the weekend.
The gaffer said the boxers identified in the national trials possess the mojo to pull off pleasant surprises at the continental showpiece.
“We have discovered a good number of boxers who have the potential to make the country proud in international tournaments,” Musa said.
“We purposed to give all the boxers in the country a chance to show us what they've got in store for us,” he added.
The tournament, which began on Thursday, brought together 72 boxers drawn from different clubs across the country, including last season's defending champions KDF and runners-up Kenya Police.
Musa said the 29 selected pugilists will report for a week-long training camp at the Mathare Depot in Nairobi on Tuesday ahead of their trip on September 7.
Headlining the star-studded list is seasoned captain Nick Okoth who has constantly featured in major global shows in recent months, including the 2020 Tokyo Games, the World Boxing Championships and the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.
Image: FILE
Other luminaries who have made the final list are Shaffi Bakari, Christine Ongare and Elizabeth Andiego and Elly Ajowi.
Musa, however, said the boxers who have not plied trade for the country in recent years still have some catch-up to do.
“We noticed there is still a huge gap between the current crop of Hit Squad members and the rest of our boxers. We hope they'll be able to speed up before our trip to Maputo.”
The premier annual showpiece, organised by the continental governing body ABU, is set to run from September 9 to 18.
The 29 boxers were identified at the national trials at the Kaloleni Social Hall in Nairobi for three days beginning Thursday.
Musa also revealed they would incorporate more coaches to help them refine the bulky squad.
“Given the number of the boxers called to camp, we will need a few more coaches to ease off the burden of preparations. We shall release the names in the week,” he said.
Final squad
Men
1.Minimum : Abednego Kyalo (KDF)
2. Flyweight: David Karanja (Police)
3.Bantam : Shaffi Bakari (Police)
4. Feather: Samuel Njau (KDF)
5. Feather: Isaac Meja (KDF)
6. Light: Nick Okoth (KDF)
7. Light: Joshua Clive (Nairobi)
8.L. Welter : E than Maina (Police)
9. Welter: Steve Olang' (Nairobi)
10.Welter : Joseph Shighali (Police)
11. L.Middle : Boniface Mugunde (Police)
12.Middle: Edwin Okong'o (KDF)
13.L. Heavy: Robert Okaka (Nairobi)
14.Cruiser : Hezron Maganga (KDF)
15.Heavy : Peter Abuti (KDF)
16.S.Heavy : Elly Ajowi (Police)
Women
17. Minimum: Christine Ongare (Police)
18. Minimum: Lance Akinyi (Nairobi)
19. LightFly: Ann Wanjiru (Mombasa)
20. Flyweight: Emily Juma (Nairobi)
21. Flyweight: Veronica Mbithe (KDF)
22. Bantam : Amina Martha (Kibra)
23. Feather: Beatrice Akoth (Nairobi)
24. Light: Stacy Ayoma (Nairobi)
25. L.Welter: Praxides Oduor (Nairobi)
26. L.Middle: Lorna Kusa (Nairobi)
27. Middle: Elizabeth Andiego (Kentrack)
28. L.Heavy: Elizabeth Akinyi (Kentrack)
29. Heavy : Media Muhatia (Kisumu)