Olympian Nick “Commander” Okoth is among high profile boxers in the national team, Hit Squad, that was named yesterday for the Africa Championships slated for Maputo, Mozambique, on September 9-18.

Okoth, a former AIBA Featherweight champion, brings to the team a wealth of experience and will be chasing a treble achievement in the continental showcase having won the 2008 and 2017 editions.

Also in the team is Christine Ongare, one of Kenyan female pugilists to win medals in the international platform and who gave a good account of herself in the 2017 championships when she won a bronze medal.

Shaffi Bakari, another accomplished boxer who was born and brought up in Kisauni, Mombasa, has also been incorporated in the squad and will feature in the flyweight division. 

The final squad of eight boxers, five men and three women- was named after an all-inclusive three-day tournament held at Charter Hall in Nairobi. 

Yesterday, Head Coach Benjamin Musa said the team hopes to make amends from the not-so-promising display at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games in which Okoth and Bakari featured prominently.

“We did not produce the desired results in the summer games but we have put the disappointment behind us. Composure and fast reaction will be key to success in Mozambique. Let’s hope for the best,” quipped Musa.

The tactician’s optimism was even fired up after Boxing Federation of Kenya (BFK) national Secretary General David Munuhe said this was one of the best national squads ever selected as it was laden with medal prospects.

“AS BFK it has been our intention all along to give the team the best support possible for it to do well.  The boxers are focused particularly after philanthropy by the National Olympic Committee (NOCK),” said Munuhe.

Hit Squad received Sh 2.5 Million from NOCK ahead of the championships in which Kenya received an invitation during the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.