ARE EAST AFRICAN BOXERS ON A GAMBLING MISSION IN ITALY?
Uganda Boxing Federation President Moses Muhangi says only a miracle will see his boxers qualify for the Olympics
East African boxers take to the ring in Busto Arsizio from Sunday (March 3) in the World Olympic Qualifiers very much aware their reputation is in tatters especially Uganda and Kenya, once among the world’s superpowers in the ring.
Today, in terms of boxing reputation, Kenya and Uganda can be likened to limping lions unable to roar and still struggling to find their footing among the world’s elite boxing nations, a treacherous journey fraught with thorns and slippery mountains.
Kenya is being represented by six boxers, light-flyweight Christine Ongare, flyweight David Karanja, featherweight Shaffi Bakari, welterweight Friza Anyango, light-middleweight Boniface Mogunde and middleweight Liz Andiego (pictured in the middle during a training session). Uganda have four boxers, flyweight Shafic Mawanda, light-welterweight Joshua Takamuhebwa, welterweight Emily Nakalema and middleweight Yusuf Nkobeza while Tanzania put their faith on only one boxer, light-heavyweight Yusuf Changalawe.
At last year’s Africa Olympic qualifiers in Dakar, the East Africa region was the only one in the continent which failed to produce even a single qualifier.
Algeria led the way with five boxers followed by Egypt, Morocco and Nigeria three each with Tunisia, Zambia, Mozambique and DR Congo having one each.
So, what are the prospects of the East African boxers in Italy? Is anyone of them capable of rising to the occasion in a competition featuring some of the world’s top boxers? Have the three countries adequately prepared themselves for the big task at hand.
Uganda Boxing Federation (UBF) president Moses Muhangi was brutally honest when commenting on Uganda’s prospects of excelling in the New Vision newspaper.
Said Muhangi:” Without shame we’re going to this qualifier just for the sake. First of all the team has not prepared well because the National Council of Sports did not avail us money. So how do you expect them to perform? Maybe a miracle will save us. I can frankly say we have 1percent chance of qualifying a single boxer.”
The issue of inadequate preparations among most African countries has featured prominently in the past especially when they flop in major international tournaments.
That’s why ring analysts always pose this one million dollar question: If you’re a serious coach worth your salt and you know very well you’ve not prepared adequately for a prestigious international tournament, why do you have to enter your boxers? Is it a must you have to participate? It’s like sitting for a crucial examination yet you know you have not revised well.
How possible is it to pass an examination without preparing for it unless you’re a genius.
Do we still have naturally good and talented boxers in Africa who can conquer the world like, for example, Ayub Kalule, Steve Muchoki, Azumah Nelson did without meaningful preparations using modern facilities?
✍🏼 AFBC Communications