Kenyan Bakari to face Otukile in boxing final

Gilbert Kiprotich in Rabat, Morocco

Kenya’s Shaffi Bakari will take on Botswana’s Rajab Otukile in the finals of the men’s flyweight 52kg scheduled for today’s evening at the Salle Al Imam arena here in Rabat.

Bakari is the only Kenyan to qualify for the final after beating Ethiopia’s Dawit Bekele 4-1 in yesterday’s semi final clash thus being assured of either a gold or silver medal in the championship.

Other Kenyan boxers were eliminated at the semi final stage on Wednesday and therefore settled for bronze medals.

Boniface Mogunde (welterweight 69kg) lost his bout to Nigeria’s Abdu-afeez Osoba while Fredrick Ramogi (Super heavyweight +91kg) lost to Kimbembi Jeamie of Democratic Republic of Congo.

George Ouma Cosby was eliminated by Morocco’s Tarik Alalli in the middleweight 75kg as Elly Ajowi also lost to Youness Baalla of Morocco in the heavyweight category (91kg).

Even before today’s finals, Kenya has already bettered its African Games record in boxing, having only bagged two bronze medals in the 2015 championship held in Brazzavile, Congo.

Speaking to Citizen Digital, Ramogi who won his maiden continental medal said his focus now shifts to the Olympic Qualifiers slated for next year February in Senegal.

“I wanted to win gold but a bronze medal is also an achievement for me, I didn’t get it right against the Congolese but now I return to the gym and prepare now for the qualifiers because that is another big tournament. I can say that I have learned a lot here where I have had a chance to face champions from Africa which will improve me,” said Ramogi.

In the 2015 edition, it was the ‘Hit Squad’ captain Nick Okoth-who was eliminated at the quarter final stage in this tournament- and Ajowi who bagged the two bronze medals.

This year’s performance will be a big shot in the arm for the head coach Benjamin Musa and his assistant David Munuhe as well as the new Boxing Association of Kenya president Anthony Ombok who took office recently.