Boxing selection: At BAK, we believe in fairness and justice

Benson Gicharu during the 2012 London Olympics. The BAK chairman has defended a list of boxers compiled in advance for the 2014 Glasgow Games, saying it was purely for visa application logistics purposes. [PHOTO: FILE / STANDARD]

By JOHN KAMETA

Indeed, we speak from the same pedestal that boxers would work hard if they knew that the Government was behind them in their endeavours and supported their efforts.

Kenyan amateur boxing takes pride in boxers of note such as Dick “Tiger” Murunga, Robert Wangila Napunyi, James “Demosh” Omondi, and many more who brought fame and glory to the country.

But the sport’s national governing body, Boxing Association of Kenya (BAK), has also had its fair share of wrangles that crippled the administration of boxing.

We witnessed past BAK administrations slip into fights, including legal battles, and this sad aspect really diminished our prospects at regional and international events. Our local standards also suffered as a result.

But I happen to lead a new era BAK that believes in transparency and accountability. Personally, I also believe in fairness, justice and equality. That is why I welcome criticism of all kinds from every corner — like a seasoned boxer, one must be prepared for a jab from the opponent at all times and defend himself well – in truth and in fact.

And that is why I respect the sentiments expressed by James ‘Demosh’ Omondi, (‘Random selection of boxers to Scotland wrong,’ Standard on Sunday, February 16, 2014).

Indeed, we speak from the same pedestal that boxers would work hard if they knew that the Government was behind them in their endeavours and supported their efforts.

But the contents of this article were not factual in many aspects and I wish to set the record straight. First, it is not true that BAK has already selected a team of boxers out of which we intend to pick the final team to the 2014 Glasgow Games in August.

We did indeed compile a list of 52 boxers (both men and women) who we thought could make the cut given their past performance record and activity.

But this list is not final – it was only done to avoid the possible bottlenecks of the visa application process for a large group of people as the Kenya delegation. All 52 boxers who appear on this list will still have to fight it out for slots to the national team in an open competition process. The national selections will be held at the Kaloleni Social Hall in Nairobi between April 10 and 12.

The door is still open for coaches who feel that their boxers can make the cut to the national team and they are free to bring these pugilists to the national selections on the said dates. They can still contact the BAK office for consideration.

Secondly, it is common knowledge that the visa application process to enter the UK is a rigorous one. The requirement that all national delegation members must submit their biometric information for capturing well in advance informed our planning decisions on the Commonwealth Games preparations, including the selections.

This information must be relayed to the Games organisers well in advance as well.

We also wanted to avoid the possibility of being time barred due to late submissions of requisite documents to the relevant authorities. The National Olympics Committee of Kenya has sanctioned this process and it is not exclusive to Bak alone but to all sport federations under Nock.

Biometric registration is the collection of data from individual participants, which could be easily referenced when the athletes travel to the Games in Scotland. It is similar to the biometric registration process that was used by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) during the March 2013 General Election in Kenya.

The process is also similar to the data collection procedure used by embassies and high commissions when one applies for visa. Fingerprints and digital photos matching the athletes are stored in a digital bank, which will reveal the athletes’ details when their passports are scanned.

In order to be fully registered for participation in the Games, athletes and officials must take their valid passports that were submitted during biometric entries.

As I write this, 22 boxers and officials are undergoing the biometric details capture process at the British High Commission.

Another 22 were to appear on February 18 and yet another 23 the day after.

The compilation of a list of this nature should never cause alarm because the boxers are derived from regional lists that have been forwarded to the BAK national office.