Africa Boxing Championships: Missing luggage affects Kenyan boxers' training in DRC

Boxing
By Ben Ahenda | Oct 18, 2024
Africa Zone Three Boxing Championships light heavyweight gold medalist Elizabeth Andiego in a training session two years ago. [FILE]

The flight confusion that resulted in the national boxing team leaving their luggage at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Nairobi has affected their training sessions in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo.

The team is in the Central African capital for the Africa Boxing Championships that boxes-off on Saturday.

Team captain Elizabeth Andiego confirmed that for the last two days, they have been forced to train with the same attire they had used in their travelling party on their three and half flight from Nairobi to Kinshasa.

"It has not been easy for us when using the same attire, we had don back in Nairobi for our training sessions for two days without changing. It has greatly affected us," said Andiego.

Despite these challenges, Andiego said their eyes are trained on winning medals.

"Despite all these challenges, we have put all that behind our back and are focused and determined to win medals," said Andiego who's the reigning Africa Zone Three heavyweight champion.

Reigning national bantamweight champion Shaffi Bakari said there was no cause for alarm as they had had some good training sessions back at home.

"We are privileged to have learnt about the latest scoring system, which should also assist the playing unit on ways to earn crucial points," said the boxer who's the Africa Zone Three bantamweight silver medallist.

He said they are determined to come back with medals.

A team of nine male and three female boxers are in Kinshasa for the showpiece.

Head coach Musa Benjamin said they are steadily exposing the young boxers for the next epic international assignments like the World Boxing Championships, Commonwealth Games and Olympic Games.

"These boxers are there with a purpose and the purpose is to win medals and nothing else," said Benjamin who was expected to join the boxers in Kinshasa on Friday.

Share this story
Football. AFC Leopards edge Nairobi United to move top of the table
AFC Leopards moved top of the SportPesa Premier League table on Wednesday after seeing off Nairobi United 2-0 in a rescheduled midweek match played at Nyayo National Stadium.
Diallo stars as Ivory Coast set up Egypt showdown in AFCON
Amad Diallo starred as Ivory Coast beat Burkina Faso 3-0 and became the first AFCON defending champions to reach the quarter-finals since 2010.
Boulbina extra-time stunner takes Algeria through to AFCON quarter-finals
A thunderous strike by substitute Adil Boulbina deep in extra time settled a tense encounter as Algeria beat the Democratic Republic of Congo 1-0 in their AFCON last-16 tie
Chelsea appoint inexperienced Rosenior as new boss
Liam Rosenior was confirmed on Tuesday as Chelsea's new head coach on a six-and-a-half-year deal
Top ten polo youngsters to watch in 2026
With a sudden rise in the number of young talented riders, the selection of teams for international championships will be more intense this year compared to last season against experienced players.
.
RECOMMENDED NEWS