Waba sends four pugilists to Kenya Open

By ERICK OCHIENG’

Western Amateur Boxing Association (Waba) will send four boxers to the forthcoming Kenya Open Boxing Championship.

The Waba boxers exhibited unrivalled displays at the National Intermediate Championship at Ndederu Boxing Hall, Central Region, at the weekend.

The boxers are Christopher Madiand, Brian Kilonzo, Kennedy Onyango and Philemon Mangenyi.

The pugilists are now hopeful that their skills will see them included in the national team after the Kenya Open Championship.

Mangenyi, who was the darling of everyone at the Intermediate event, won all his bouts in the bantamweight category, overpowered Nairobi’s Titus Ngugi to lift the title.

Upper hand

Prior to the bout, Ngugi was seen to have an upper hand in the fight, owing to his experience, but things turned awry in the second round where Mangenyi sent several on target jabs to overpower his opponent.

Madiand (heavyweight), Kilonzo (Welter weight) and Onyango (light welter) also applied similar tactics that saw them reach the finals.

Other boxers who have qualified for Kenya Open are Frank Munene,Wycliffe Mavungano, Daniel Muriuki, Edwin Okongo, Charles Okoth, Stephen Wanjohi (Nairobi), Jackson Meria and Frank Odiwour (Police).

Waba’s Philemon Mangenyi (right) and Titus Ngugi of Nairobi in a bantam weight bout at the National Intermediate Boxing championship at the weekend. [PHOTOS:STAFFORD ONDEGO/STANDARD]

Waba started off with 12 boxers in the national boxing series and four managed to reach the National Novices championship held last month at St.Teresa’s Hall in Nairobi where they qualified for the Intermediate Championship.

During the Intermediate championships, Nairobi emerged top with 22 points, followed by Waba on 20, while Kenya Police came third on seven points. Hosts central were last with six points.

Waba who will be participating in the Amateur Boxing Association (ABA) National League for the first time, has selected 12 boxers to represent the region in ABA National League whose first leg is scheduled for Nakuru on April 7.

Good performance

"Although it is our first time to participate in this (ABA) league, we are hoping for good performance owing to the kind of sponsorship Mumias Sugar has granted us," said Waba chairman Rashid Mohamed.

"We have registered and all logistics for the league have been finalised," added Mohamed.

But another Waba official, John Amuyoma, says the team needs more sponsorship for better performance at the Kenya Open.

"We are thankful to Pamela Lutta, Head of Corporate Affairs for Mumias Sugar and CEO Evans Kidero for meeting all our expenses in all the series. However, we believe more sponsorships will make Waba perform even better in subsequent championships," said Amuyoma.

But Mohammed says they have a lot to do before the Kenya Open kicks off.

"Right now we have taken a rest from intensive training but on resumption, we are going to start working on speed and various techniques as Kenya Open is no child’s play," said Mohammed.

Head coach Tom Ombok has already come up with a training programme for both the league and for Kenya Open when the team reports to their training base at Mumias Complex on Saturday.

Plans are underway to affiliate Waba with the national Amateur Boxing Association early next month.