Kenya boxers shelve protest over Ministry cash

The national boxing team has shelved a planned protest at the Ministry of Sports, Arts and Culture offices in Nairobi to press for the release of Ksh20m they had been promised for their Rio 2016 Olympics qualification push.

This is after Cabinet Secretary, Dr. Hassan Wario, invited Boxing Association of Kenya (BAK) chairman, John Kameta, to a meeting in his offices on Monday to discuss the matter.

Speaking to Citizen, Kameta said they held back the demonstration that was announced over the weekend pending the outcome of the meeting but they would not hesitate to continue if nothing fruitful comes out of it.

“We are yet to receive the money promised but I have a meeting with the minister today (Monday) at his offices.If we don’t get anything, then we shall have the boxers protest outside the offices,” Kameta affirmed.

The money was promised to BAK when they received Ksh20m in sponsorship from betting firm, SportsPesa on January 23 for the 2016 National League in Mombasa.

Two days later, the squad of 13 who will vie for Olympics qualification was released.

“We have had a lot of challenges, unfortunately the team was supposed to be in camp for about two months but due to financial problems, we are forced to camp for only two weeks.

“I don’t know the arrangements. I must really call upon the Ministry and National Olympics Committee to communicate and give us the position. I’ve been trying to get the real position since last week but up to now I don’t have anything tangible to suggest we shall take the team to Cameroon,” the BAK boss said last week at Nairobi’s Jamhuri Showground camp.

The team started training on February 21 when the National Olympics Committee of Kenya stepped in to support the camp on a reduced budget with the pugilists lacking sparring partners due to the cash crunch.

SQUAD

Peter Mungai (light fly), Simon Mulinge (fly), Benson Gicharu (bantam), Nick Okoth (light), Victor Odhiambo (light welter), Rayton Okwiri/John Kyalo (welter), Nickson Abaka/Edwin Okongo (middle), Humphrey Ochieng’ (light heavy), Elly Ajowi (heavy) and Fred Ramogi (super heavy) are in the men’s squad.

Christine Ongare (fly), Teresia Wanjiru (light) and Elizabeth Akinyi (middle) are the lady boxes selected to contest for Olympics tickets.

Report by Phillip Muchiri