Boxing: Counties ready for the Novices Championship

Abubakar Okunda of Kenyatta National Hospital (in red) in action with Anthony Kariuki from Coast at the Light weight category during the final leg of the Nation Boxing league at Madison Square in Nakuru on October 20,2016.PHOTO:KIPSANG JOSEPH

A number of counties boxing teams are ready for the National Novices Championships to be held in Nairobi on February 16-18.

As some counties will be doing their selection trials this weekend, others have already selected their players for the three-day tournament.

Kisumu is among the counties that have already selected a 10-member squad heading to Nairobi for the championships while Nakuru, Mombasa and Nairobi counties will conduct their selection trials this weekend.

Kisumu coach Charles Ayoma believes his charges have what it takes to be promoted to next month's National Intermediate Championships.

They include flyweight Phillip Odhiambo, bantamweight Ezekiel Otieno, welterweight Eugene Otieno, light welterweight Morgan Odhiambo, featherweight Erick Odoyo, light welterweight Jared Omondi, lightweight Juma Faraj and light heavyweight Brian Odhiambo.

Three names in the final squad will be released this morning.

“Our training sessions continue till we depart for Nairobi. The boys are ready to exhibit their skills hoping to be promoted to the National Intermediate Championships,” Ayoma told Standard Sports.

Nakuru head coach Carlos Muthee said they are ready to parade a squad of six players for the tournament.

”We hope to send a strong squad to the National Championships but the squad will be selected this weekend,” said Muthee.

Mombasa County Boxing Association chairman Abdulsalaam Kassim said they intend to send a full team of ten players to the championships.

“Immediately we come up with the final squad, our training sessions commence at the same time,” stated Kassim.