ABA ordered to put house in order within 30 days

By Erick Ochieng’

Amateur Boxing Association of Kenya (ABA) has been given 30 days by the office of the Registrar of Societies either to put their house in order or risk being dissolved.

The association was also ordered to update the office of the Registrar of Societies about the actions it is taking to solve the current stalemate in the federation.

The Registrar of Societies, in a letter dated October 24, 2011, demanded that ABA’s wrangling factions, one led by Samson Mugacha and the other by John Kameta and Isaac Mbote resolve the wrangles within one month or the association be suspended.

The copy of the letter issued by Deputy Registrar of Societies Joseph Onyango is also with the Kenya National Sports Council, Commissioner of Sports and the National Olympics Committee of Kenya.

In an interview on Sunday, Mbote confirmed his faction received the letter and is willing to attend the meeting to iron out the differences.

"We have indeed received the letter and we are requesting that the meeting (to resolve the stalemate in ABA) be chaired by the Kenya National Sports Council," said Mbote.

Mugacha said that following the directive, an urgent full council meeting slated for November 19 at Nyayo National Stadium has been called.

"All ABA parties have been invited to attend the meeting and help solve the wrangles, we are also going to look for the way forward for ABA Kenya," said Musa Benjamin who is Nairobi ABA treasurer.

ABA affiliates that have been issued with the notice for the meeting are Police, Afaba, Prison, Administration Police, Nairobi, Nyanza, Coast, Western, Denderu, Meru Boxing Club and Rift Valley.

Benjamin regretted that the wrangles have made Kenya to miss Africa, World, Junior and Elite championships, which are all ranking tournaments.

Missing out

"Most of the Kenyan boxers are currently not being ranked by world ABA body, AIBA, due to the failure to take part in these continental and global championships. We even fear missing out in the Olympics should the wrangles persist," said Benjamin.

He added that ABA’s immediate focus is on the Kenya Open and Olympic qualifiers and general development of boxing in the country.

Meanwhile, ABA Nairobi Open Championship is set for November 3-5 at City Hall in Nairobi.

The provincial championship has landed sponsorship from the Nairobi City Council, Town Clerk (Philip Kisia), Nairobi Mayor George Aladwa and Umoja Ward Councillor George Theuri.

The high profile boxing event will be used by Nairobi ABA to select boxers to participate in the national Kenya Open Championship scheduled for November 10-12.