KDF’s timely boost as Mathenge, Onyango and Ramogi recover from injuries

kenya national boxing league Fredrick Onyango (in a red jersey) from the Kenya Defence Forces ABC trade pinches with Elly Ajowi (in a blue jersey) from the Kenya Police ABC in their heavy weight category final bout during the Kenya National Boxing League First Leg at the Freere Town Social Hall in Mombasa, April 12, 2015. Onyango won the bout by points. [PHOTO BY GIDEON MAUNDU/STANDARD].

The return of three key boxers from injury has boosted the morale of defending champions Kenya Defence Forces ahead of the final leg of the National Boxing League.

In pursuit to upstage current league leaders Kenya Police at the top and retain the title during the fifth leg at Madison Square Garden in Nakuru from November 26-28, KDF have their work cut out.

KDF's Team Manager Ben Maingi said the comeback of middleweight Black Moses Mathenge, heavyweight Fredrick Onyango and super-heavyweight Fredrick Ramogi has thrilled all team members and hopes it will help them retain the title.

Their return has added experience and hope to the team that took part in the fourth leg of the league in Mombasa last weekend, which was led by All African Games lightweight bronze medallist Nick Okoth.

“This is great joy for all team members, although we are not overlooking others, who had taken their positions during the trio's absence,” said Maingi.

The trio was recovering from injuries sustained during the World Military Games in South Korea from October 1-12.

They had been replaced with Edwin Okong’o (middle), Vincent Otieno (heavy) and Michael Okwisia (super heavy) during the Mombasa fights.

“However, they’ll have to work their way back into the first team and must compete equally with their rivals in residential training,” he stated.

Okong’o, who featured in Mombasa, defeated Silas Masake of Kenya Police in the middleweight final. Maingi said their return is a great relief to the technical bench as they strategise on how to reduce the three-point deficit in the league ranking.

“It has added more impetus to our playing unit and given us more options in the last leg of the league championships as we head to Nakuru in two weeks,” Maingi said.

According to Maingi, their aim is to retain the league title for the second consecutive year. He said had Onyango (Fredrick) been in their starting line up in Mombasa, he would have made all the difference in the overall team's position.

“I’m confident, he would have upstaged All African Games heavyweight bronze medallist Elly Ajowi of Kenya Police in the heavyweight final,” Maingi said.

Ajowi knocked out Vincent Otieno of KDF in the first round with Maingi saying, ”It had reduced our chances of winning that leg when we dropped two valuable points. Let me hope the two opponents (Onyango and Ajowi) will face off in Nakuru."

“Our party was spoilt when flyweight Simon Mulinge was injured in the semis despite having led in the first two rounds against an Oscar Academy boxer,” Maingi observed.

Maingi called on the players not to underrate their opponents in any way until they accomplish their mission.

“All the lost points will be recovered in Nakuru although, we are not underrating the policemen and other opponents. It is not done until the cup is won and we know it won't be an easy task,” he said.