THE AXE FALLS: Two boxers dropped from Commonwealth Games-bound ‘Hit Squad’ camp in Kasarani

Nick Otieno, right, (Kanyankole) fight it out with John Gitau in Bantam weight category at Kariobangi Social hall. Nick won the bout organized by Box Girls Promotion at Kariobangi Social Hall on May 10, 2014. [PHOTO:JONAH ONYANGO/STANDARD]

Two boxers have been dropped from the Kenya ‘Hit Squad’ camp at the Safaricom Kasarani Stadium ahead of the forthcoming Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland.

Head coach Albert Matito told FeverPitch on Sunday that men’s superheavyweight boxer Daniel Sishia of Kenya Prisons and women’s lightweight Lornah Kusa of Nairobi were axed for lack of fitness.

The coach noted that Sishia became unimpressive in the previous tournaments the team engaged in after the national selections held in April at the Kaloleni Social Hall, Nairobi, where ten male and three female boxers were selected for the camp.

“Out of the ten men, two were to be dropped ahead of the Commonwealth Games but this has changed after the world amateur boxing association Aiba, allowed us to increase the men’s slot by one. So we will be taking nine male and two female boxers whom we already have in camp,” Matito explained.

According to the coach, the boxers sparring partners were expected at the camp yesterday. Matito, who, told FeverPitch he will concentrate on the electronic scoring system, said he is determined to ensure the boxers understand the scoring system.

“It is good we have the machine. It was given to us by Aiba from the World Championship in Khazagastan last year.”

“This machine is vital as it helps the boxers to initiate skills for points during bouts. Other techniques I will be teaching this week are endurance, speed and scores,” the coach said.

The camp has four boxers who attended the last Commonwealth Games held in Delhi, India in 2010. They are bronze medalist Nick Okoth, silver medalist and Olympian Benson Gicharu, Elly Ajowi and this year’s Sri Lanka’s King Lion International Boxing welter weight champion Rayton Okwiri.

Kenya Defence Force (KDF) boxer Okoth said his focus is on gold in the lightweight category following his good performance in Delhi.
“With the kind of training I am receiving now, I am hoping to reap a higher medal in Glasgow,” Okoth said.

Likewise, Kenya Police boxer Gicharu, the sole 2012 London Olympics men’s representative, said he is hoping to gain mileage in Glasgow.

“We train three times a day and this has no doubt put me in great shape,” said Gicharu, currently the best bantamweight boxer in the country in the amateur category.

Ajowi (light heavy), also from the Kenya Police and Okwiri from Kenya Prison have resolved to put their Delhi nightmare aside and concentrate ahead of Glasgow where they are determined to cause ripples in their categories.

Other boxers in camp are Charles Okoth, Simon Mulinge, Denis Okoth, all from KDF, and Matayo Keyo from Nairobi Metro.

Women boxers include Olympian Elizabeth Andiego and Christine Ongare who are -both from Nairobi.

Boxing Association of Kenya (Bak) chairman John Kameta has affirmed that BAK still has the final say on the boxers who will be travelling to Glasgow. The team departs on July 15.

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