Boxing in Kenya now a pale shadow of former self

Last year, the national boxing team 'Hit Squad' hopes of securing quotas at the African Paris 2024 Olympics Boxing qualifiers in Dakar, Senegal ended in utter disappointment, returning home with just one silver medal but no slot to the Olympics.

Kenya’s “Hit Squad” which participated in the Africa Olympic boxing qualifiers in Dakar, Senegal, on February 20 to 28 returned home with only two pugilists making the cut.

To be true to ourselves, Kenyan boxing is in bad shape and the fans are not impressed by the poor performances wondering what happened to the once mighty “Hit Squad”.

The glorious era of Kenyan boxing ended in the early 90s after mismanagement, wrangles and other controversies crept into the sport and the once dreaded “Hit Squad” became a shell of its former self.

The question begs: “What went wrong?

Many will remember back in 1964, when boxer Philip Waruinge made his debut at the Tokyo Olympics but lost in the pre-quarter finals but in 1966 Commonwealth Games in Kingston, Jamaica, he came back stronger and won gold in the featherweight category.

The late Waruinge successfully defended the title in 1970 in Edinburg, Scotland. Then went to Mexico City, Mexico, in 1968 when he won Kenya’s first Olympic boxing medal - bronze- and also the Val Baker Trophy.

Then came flyweight Stephen Muchoki who won two Commonwealth Games gold medals in Christchurch, New Zealand in 1974 and Edmonton, Canada in 1978, respectively.

Muchoki also won a silver medal in the inaugural World Boxing Championship in Havana, Cuba, in 1974. He added a second gold during the second edition of the World Championship in Belgrade, Yugoslavia, in 1978.

The country flourished when Major (Rtd) Marsden Madoka was the boxing chief. However, after Madoka’s departure after the 1996 Atlanta Olympics Games in the US, things have been less rosy.

Kenyan boxing has been affected by poor selection of the national team, lack of incentives for boxers leading to low morale, lack of sponsors and inadequate qualified coaches and managers.

Incumbent Boxing Association of Kenya (BAK) president Anthony Otieno Ombok, popularly known as “Jamal”, who was elected in June, 2019 has not fully united officials and embraces even those who opposed him during the election.

BAK has not revived the Kenya Open, Inter-Cities (Nairobi vs Kampala), the two-leg Urafiki Trophy contest featuring Kenya’s “Hit Squad” versus Uganda’s “Bombers” at Nairobi Charter Hall / or at the Kasarani basketball gymnasium and Kampala’s Lugogo Indoor Stadium.

For Kenya to return to its glorious past, there is need to start nurturing a new crop of boxers for future competitions , something that is not being seen yet looking at the current “Hit Squad”,  one is inclined to feel that some are past their peak with no remedy in sight.

Remember the last time Kenya won an Olympic boxing medal was in 1988 in Seoul, South Korea by the late Robert Wangila when he won Africa’s first gold medal in a three-round KO win over Frenchman Laurent Boudouni in the welterweight final.

Over three decades Kenyan boxers have failed to emulate these great boxers.

Under the leadership of Madoka BAK had a serious executive committee comprising Victor Cardozo, John Roberts, James Ndisi, Victor Mbaji, Stanley Wachanga, Harrison Kilonzo, Gen (Rtd) Peter Waweru and Mukuru Mukundi , something that is not visible now.

Kenya had AIBA qualified referees such as Elisha Abetsi, Joseph Saoke, Isaac Mbote, Humphrey Wamba, Captain Trevor Hill, Cornelius Monteiro, Henry Omollo , Joseph Mwangi Muthoga and the late Richard Mwangi.

The current Kenya‘s “Hit Squad”s technical bench is not the same as the one that was lead by the late Peter Mwarangu who worked so well with other able coaches like Peter Dula, Peter Morris, Charles Anjimbi, Eddie “Papa” Musi, Patrick “Madd” Okoth and Charles Longisa who supported each other despite leading different clubs.

A quick and sincere rethink is needed starting from the ministry of sports and BAK to help Kenya regain its lost glory, because we cannot continue praising mediocrity.