National women boxing team set to commence training

Kenya's Elizabeth Andiego (right) in action with Rady Adosalinda Gramane. [Courtesy]

As the national boxing team gets ready for the World Women Boxing Championships, they need at least four weeks to gain full fitness for the global showpiece slated for March in Belgrade, Serbia.

Though the International Boxing Association (IBA) is yet to announce the exact dates, head coach Musa Benjamin said the official training sessions starts at the end of this month.

"We just need to start this programme early enough to ensure all boxers first get to their full fitness before starting to teach them other basics of skills enhancement, empowerment and polishing," Benjamin said.

He said the work ahead of them is enormous and all they need for now is to ensure the National Technical Commission (NTC) picks the best and right boxers in the right weight categories.

"All that we need are the right boxers in the right weight categories before we commence the second phase of our training sessions for the global showpiece, which should be underway in the next ten weeks," stated Benjamin.

He said some of the experienced female boxers who in the past have represented Kenya in different international championships are assured of their places if they satisfy the jury.

They include team captain and Africa Zone Three light heavyweight champion Elizabeth Andiego who's an Olympian, bantamweight Amina Martha, flyweights Emily Juma and Lencer Akinyi, welterweight Frazer Anyango, featherweight Pauline Chege and Africa Military Games flyweight bronze medallist Veronica Mbithe.

"These is an experienced set of players who no experienced coach would like to do without in crucial international assignments. However, they must also pull up their socks to satisfy the jury of the National Technical Commission to be included into the team," explained Benjamin.