Otieno rallies government to salvage dying boxing

There is a need to come up with better means of making Kenyan boxing more vibrant and attractive to sponsors. Kasarani boxing club head coach Ian Otieno feels the sport could be headed to oblivion given the little attention it gets from the government.

Once shining  pugilists like former WBC super bantam weight title holder Fatuma Zarika and African Union middle weight champion Rayton Okwiri have retreated into the backstage in a move that symbolize the once savored game’s fall from grace.  

“It would be good for the government to put more investment in boxing equipment to help improve the game', Otieno said.

The tactician now wants more inter-county boxing competitions and their regional versions to be revived in a bid to woo sponsors who will benefit from the game the same to boxers themselves.

With the rate of drug abuse and insecurity on an all-time high in the country, Otieno is convinced that a rejuvenated boxing fraternity will offer more safe spaces for the youth, who are mostly involved in the regrettable vices, to be productively engaged as they pursue their sporting dreams.

He has called for the Boxing Federation of Kenya (BFK) to make changes on its leadership so as to get officials who will help come up with a proper grassroots coaching program and talent nurturing.

His sentiments come in the wake of Kenyan female boxers dismal performances in this year’s International Boxing Association (IBA) competition which they finished without a single medal. However during the African regional event which was staged in Democratic Republic Of Congo Kenya scooped 18 medals.

Kenya was represented by 10 female representatives in this year’s event that was held in Istanbul, Turkey