Africa Boxing Championships: Missing luggage affects Kenyan boxers' training in DRC

Africa Zone Three Boxing Championships light heavyweight gold medalist Elizabeth Andiego in a training session two years ago. [FILE]

The flight confusion that resulted in the national boxing team leaving their luggage at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Nairobi has affected their training sessions in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo.

The team is in the Central African capital for the Africa Boxing Championships that boxes-off on Saturday.

Team captain Elizabeth Andiego confirmed that for the last two days, they have been forced to train with the same attire they had used in their travelling party on their three and half flight from Nairobi to Kinshasa.

“It has not been easy for us when using the same attire, we had don back in Nairobi for our training sessions for two days without changing. It has greatly affected us,” said Andiego.

Despite these challenges, Andiego said their eyes are trained on winning medals.

“Despite all these challenges, we have put all that behind our back and are focused and determined to win medals,” said Andiego who’s the reigning Africa Zone Three heavyweight champion.

Reigning national bantamweight champion Shaffi Bakari said there was no cause for alarm as they had had some good training sessions back at home.

“We are privileged to have learnt about the latest scoring system, which should also assist the playing unit on ways to earn crucial points,” said the boxer who’s the Africa Zone Three bantamweight silver medallist.

He said they are determined to come back with medals.

A team of nine male and three female boxers are in Kinshasa for the showpiece.

Head coach Musa Benjamin said they are steadily exposing the young boxers for the next epic international assignments like the World Boxing Championships, Commonwealth Games and Olympic Games.

“These boxers are there with a purpose and the purpose is to win medals and nothing else,” said Benjamin who was expected to join the boxers in Kinshasa on Friday.