Why Nakuru Boxing Club is going through a rough patch

Mary Muthoni (in red jersey) of Nakuru ABC trade punches with Rebeca Matanda (in blue jersey) of Administration Police ABC in their 60kgs weight category semi final bout during the road to Olympics boxing championship at the Modern Fitness Lounge, January 23, 2016. Muthoni won by points. [PHOTO BY GIDEON MAUNDU/STANDARD].

All is not well at the Nakuru Amateur Boxing Club.

For quite sometime now, the side has been unable to honour most of its National Boxing League matches. And according to head coach Carlos Muthee Mwangi, they don't have money to cover the trips.

"These have been tough times for us. We have been unable to assemble a full squad or in worst cases, failed to honour most of our league matches across the country. It has really impacted negatively on our part, considering we have some talented boxers," he said.

Last year, the team produced national champions John Kariuki (lightweight), Patrick Maina (middle) and Mary Muthoni (lightweight) and this year, Brian Gwaro was the best boxer in the light welterweight (64kg) in the Intermediate Championships. Muthoni has held the national title for the past six years.

"We have tried our best, but we have been unable to match our opponents, who keep poaching our players," he lamented.

Last year, national league champions Kenya Police signed middleweight Silas Omanyala Masake, but Mwangi said that move will not deter them from moulding more players.

Mwangi appealed to Nakuru county government to come to their rescue. Ironically, while the club is finding it hard to stay afloat, their players are training in one of the best facilities in East and Central Africa.

They are training at the Madison Square Garden, a replica of the world's most famous arena located on Seventh Avenue between 31st and 33rd streets in New York City, and is home to the New York Knicks, New York Rangers and New York Liberty.

The club has a permanent boxing ring that has hosted international matches and is still in perfect condition, thus attracting sponsors, who have branded it.

Started by colonial settlers in 1930s, the club has grown to become a Private Members Club with a modern gymnasium. It has shifted to three different venues before being permanently built in its present location along Kenyatta Lane.

Nakuru ABC chairman Njuguna Njoka said the gymnasium is open to players and members.

"This is a facility that has improved the fitness of our players and other members," he said. AIBA International referee and judge Joseph Mwangi Muthoga oversees the training sessions.

The club has produced some of the best players in Kenya's boxing history. They include 1972 Munich Olympics welterweight silver medalist Philip Waruinge and former Commonwealth Professional flyweight champion Steve Muchoki.

Over the last three years, the venue has hosted different international matches and was an automatic venue for the defunct Bruna Urafiki International Boxing Championships that saw Kenya and Uganda compete for honours in the 1970s and 1980s.

Madison Square hosts the final leg of the national league, symbolizing its significance and importance among all boxing clubs in the country. This is where all top boxers converge to witness crowning moments of the national champion.