This archive report was first published on 24 July 2019.
July 24, 2019
Kenya's boxing scene has lost its luster, a far cry from its glory days in the 1980s and early 2000s when the national team was a force to be reckoned with.
Today, the Kenyan boxing team's participation in tournaments often yields a bronze medal, if they're lucky.
According to some, the decline can be attributed to poor leadership in the Boxing fraternity, which has failed to reach out to its people for assistance, including equipment and resources.
Others point to the lack of serious attention given to boxers, but one thing is certain – there's no solution in sight to revive Kenya's boxing glory.
Bakari Welunga, a coach at Ziwani, shares a heartbreaking reality: 'Boxing requires a good diet, but most of the time boxers end up sleeping hungry because they lack people who look out for them.'
With the appointment of new BAK President Anthony Ombok Otieno, aka Jamal, there's a glimmer of hope. Jamal has been touring the country, distributing boxing equipment and organizing tournaments, including the recent Mombasa boxing tournament.
Coach Bakari Welunga has a message for Jamal: 'We would like the newly appointed BAK Chairman Jamal to visit Ziwani hall because the situation is alarming in terms of boxing talent and equipment, more so motivation.'
