Kenya’s boxing team optimistic of ruling the roost at African Games in Accra, Ghana

John Waweru, Kenya’s boxing team coach is confident of several medals at the 13th edition of the African Games currently going in Accra, Ghana, but remains worried of Morocco and Tunisia as the boxing programme rolls off today at the West African Country.

Morocco and Tunisia have a rich history in boxing and have already qualified a huge number of boxers to the Olympic Games. “However, I believe we are up to the challenge despite fielding a lean team,” he noted.

He added: “We have only four players in these games but they are very effective in terms of delivery.”
The team features Peter Abuti (92kg heavyweight), Edwin Okong’o (75kg middleweight), Alloys Vincent (63.5kg light-welterweight) and Amina Martha (bantamweight 54kg).

Kenya won five medals —one silver and two bronze—at the 12th African Games in Rabat, Morocco and would like to build upon that.

Waweru said his squad comprises both youth and experience and believes it will be a good learning curve for especially Alloys, who cleared school last year.

He said the 20-year-old has been the talk of town back home and won his category in all five legs of the National Boxing League.

“ The young man has a lot to learn from his more experienced counterparts—Abuti and Okongo—who have been all over and boxed at all levels,” he noted.

Okongo has featured two Commonwealth Games and two World Championships and this will be his second Africa Games. “ He is one of the top medal prospects and I believe he can deliver,” the coach noted.

Waweru, who is the Boxing Association of Kenya (BAK) competition secretary and one of the national team coaches since 2010, said he has a lot of confidence in the team because they trained with the team that featured in the Olympic Qualifier in Italy a week ago.

“We were with them in camp and when they left for Italy, we continued with our training. I believe we are up to challenge and will disapprove the naysayers,” he noted.

He said the hot weather conditions in Accra don’t worry him much because they have operated under similar conditions before. “We were in Dakar for three weeks last year and operated under similar conditions.”

Abuti besides winning bronze at the African Championship last year, has also featured in two World Championships and one Olympic qualifier. Like Okongo, he is a strong medal prospect.

Waweru said Vincent could make the team to the final Olympic Qualifier in Bangkok, Thailand if he performs well here in Accra.