Boxing Association of Kenya releases new guidelines

Sportpesa National Boxing League in Nakuru. Isaiah Odhiambo (in Red) of Kongowea battles out with Joseph Shigali of Kenya Police during the Sportpesa National Boxing League at Madison Square Garden in Nakuru on October 19,2017..Photo:Kipsang Joseph/Standard

From next season, clubs will be required to field at least six players in any National Boxing League tournament to receive financial funding from the Boxing Association of Kenya.

In stringent measures aimed at discouraging officials from getting finances from the federation, BAK vice president Albert Matito said the association were only interested in industrious officials who are capable of tapping talent from the grassroots.

"We'll only channel finances to clubs that present at least six players in any league assignment from next season," Matito told club officials after an executive committee meeting in Nakuru at the weekend.

The federation recently signed a multi-million shilling sponsorship deal with the betting firm, SportPesa.

Matito was speaking at the end of the fourth leg of the National Boxing League. Kenya Defence Forces emerged winners with an unassailable 25 points to get perched at the top of the 16-team competition with 82 points.

"We'll be reimbursing all expenses incurred by clubs during league matches. This is a way of encouraging them to continue working with young players," he said.

And as a measure of encouraging upcoming talent to take the sport seriously, Matito said former Olympians will accompany boxers to international matches.

He said the decision was reached after intensive negotiations with the Government, which offered to cater for all expenses involving the national boxing team, popularly referred as 'The Hit Squad'.

"This is a measure to encourage young boxers to start taking the sport seriously and make it a profession that could catapult them to fame after reaching the apex of their career," he said.