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Hit Squad needs rebuilding

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By  Editorial

The national boxing team, Hit Squad, continues to underperform on the international stage, a stark reminder of why Kenya must invest heavily in youth sports programs if the team is to reclaim its former glory. Head coach Benjamin Musa admitted that rebuilding took time as the team relied on seasoned boxers, a revelation that should spur the Boxing Federation of Kenya (BFK) into meaningful action.

The Hit Squad’s showing at the International Boxing Association (IBA) Men’s World Boxing Championship, which concluded on Saturday in Dubai, fell below expectations. Only one boxer, light heavyweight Robert Okaka, reached the quarter-finals, making him the first Kenyan to do so since 1982.

The team included eight debutants, two of whom—Paul Omondi (featherweight) and Washington Wandera (lightweight)—advanced to the round of 16. Ten of the 13 boxers failed to progress beyond the round of 32. Russia dominated the championship, securing 13 medals, including seven gold, five silver, and one bronze.

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Kenya’s best historical performance remains Stephen Muchoki, who won gold in light flyweight at the 1978 championship in Belgrade, Serbia, and silver at the 1974 championship in Havana, Cuba. The performance of the debutants raises questions about why BFK has been slow to rebuild and integrate new talent.

While the youngsters lost early, their efforts revealed promise, underscoring the need for the federation to establish robust development structures. BFK’s “Ndondi Mashinani” programme, designed to identify grassroots talent, is commendable.

However, the federation should also incorporate boxing into the national schools’ sports calendar to ensure sustained progress. Kenya’s failure to qualify for the Olympics for the first time since independence at the 2024 Paris Games, coupled with a medal drought at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham—the first in two decades—should have served as a wake-up call for BFK.

The federation must now act decisively to nurture young talent and restore the Hit Squad to its rightful place on the world stage.

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