WHAT AILS BOXING: Pugilists cite biased officiating, poor leadership and favouritism as factors behind falling standards

Former national boxing coach Peter Mwarangu (left) instructs referee Norah Achieng' as former boxer Mohamed Firozdin looks on in Ndenderu on Monday. [PHOTO:JONAH ONYAGO/STANDARD]

Biased officiating, poor leadership, favouritism and lack of corporate support are some of the factors that have led to the falling standards of amateur boxing in Kenya.

The above sentiments were relayed by former and current pugilists at a national Coaches, Referees and Judges training organised by the Boxing Association of Kenya (BAK) at the Denderu Boxing Hall in Kiambu County.

The boxers attending a one-week course include the 2008 Olympian and Africa flyweight silver medalist Bernard Ngumba, heavyweight boxer Daniel Mucheru, former Central Boxing Club champion Moses Mwangi, former Novices, Intermediate and Kenya Open winner Samuel Njenga, former national flyweight and bantamweight winner Francis Muthee and Mohammed Zamir Firozdia.

The boxers identified strategies aimed at returning the country to the global map after the generation of Olympic champion Robert Wangila.

Ngumba, 37, representing Prisons in the ongoing course says: “Officials double up as judges, referees and coaches. This promotes favouritism and victimisation of boxers who are not in their good books.” 

Ngumba however admits BAK’s plan to sensitise stakeholders on the newly introduced Aiba rules will positively transform Kenya’s amateur boxing.

Hit Squad heavyweight boxer Mucheru, 30, representing Administration Police, says lack of leadership has stagnated the growth of amateur boxing in Kenya.

While praising BAK executives for bringing world-class courses at home to create awareness on new Aiba rules, Mucheru urged the federation to exercise fairness during competitions, especially those used as qualifiers for regional and international championships.

 

QUALIFIED OFFICIALS

“Biased officiating still affects local boxing tournaments involving the forces. There is still friction among the forces (AP, Police, Kenya Defence Forces and Prisons) which needs to be resolved once and for all,” says Mucheru, who was inspired to take up boxing by his father, also a former boxer.

Mucheru officially joined the national team in 2011 and has since graduated from light heavy to heavyweight. He is yet to win an international medal for Kenya.

Hard-hitting former international and long-serving Hit Squad coach Peter Mwarangu, advises that it is not where Kenya has come from that matters but where the country is headed to.

His passion is to see the country get enough qualified officials to run the game and take it to the next level.

“As a former international player, I encourage boxers to learn the rules that govern the sport. Every year there are a lot of new changes brought up by Aiba and so there is need to educate them on the ten-point system, Aiba Pro Boxing competition and the World Boxing Series rules,” observed Mwarangu.

Mwangi, 31, said: “Lack of money is what killed my boxing career. Inasmuch as I was giving my all in the game the local officials never cared and were only interested in what got into their pockets. I congratulate BAK for giving the current boxers a future in the game.”

 

CORPORATE SUPPORT

Njenga, 38, a light fly boxer who won many trophies in the Novices, Intermediate and Kenya Open championships in his days said: “Currently, it is only the forces that employ boxers. Corporates should take the cue and do as Rivatex, Kenya Breweries, and Kenya Posta did.” 

Former national flyweight and bantamweight champion Muthee, 50, representing Kenya Defence Forces urged the government to give BAK support to enable local boxers be exposed regionally and at international levels. His sentiments were echoed by Mohamed Zamir Firozdia and Matito.

The course is facilitated by BAK officials led by Hit Squad coach Albert Matito and instructors George ‘Foreman’ Onyango, Mwangi Muthoga and Eliakim Omuyaku.

Mwarangu is the coordinator of the event which was officially opened by Kiambu Member of County Assembly for Denderu Ward Joel Ng’ang’a.

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