Ndolo vows to punch boxing back to old glory

Kenya Professional Boxing Commission (KPBC) Chairman Reuben Ndolo says he will push for reforms in boxing in the country, which he claims has been neglected by the government and leaders.

The former Makadara Member of Parliament has expressed disappointment at how the government is killing the sport by not apportioning a substantial budget to help its growth, and vowed to change the notion about the sport in the country.

“I feel that the Boxing sport has not been given the support it deserves compared to other sports disciplines. Look at what is happening in amateur boxing being led by President Jamal, the boxers are struggling in their trainings and lack full support. At least in professional boxing we have managed to secure some of the sponsorships including from the betting firms which are driving us. The government should allocate enough budget in sports more so in boxing as a way of promoting the sport,” lamented Ndolo.

Ndolo has also condemned the grabbing of old boxing halls in Nairobi County by influential people, but said he has reached out to some leaders to ensure the return of those halls to boxers to help them in training.

“It’s a pity that most of these training halls have been grabbed and many of them have now been turned to business centers and attractions. A good example is Eastleigh Hall where we used to train there even in our days, but nowadays a mall has been set up there. The Kaloleni Hall is there but it has some problems because if you go there to train they tell you that there is a church service. Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja reached out to me after a journalist aired my grievances on the same and we discussed on how he can assist to reclaim the halls for the boxers,” noted Ndolo.

He has called on all stakeholders and especially the professionals that he leads to also encourage boxers to embrace academics for their own benefit, especially after retiring or their career is cut short due to injuries.

“As the KPBC, we are urging them to make sure they go to school as they continue playing. Sporting careers are usually very short, maybe 15 years you’re done. What will you do after retiring and without papers? So they should put that into consideration,” he said.

Ndolo was in September last year appointed by the World Alliance Boxing Association (WABA) as the Governor of Commonwealth and Indo-Oceania Region for a four-year term.

He took over the role after a successful spell at the helm of the Commonwealth Boxing Council (CBC) from 2000 to 2002, where the continent got a glorious opportunity to showcase its boxing prowess.

He was the first CBC honcho to bring the AGM to Africa starting in Nairobi in 2000 and then to Accra, Ghana, 2004, a feat that has never been matched by any other preceding CBC President.