Lack of sponsorship and modern facilities hindering Kenyan boxers - Zarika

Former WBC Women Super Bantamweight champion Fatuma Zarika has blamed lack of sponsorship and modern training facilities for the poor performance posted at the International Boxing Association (IBA) Women’s World Boxing Championships in Istanbul, Turkey last month.

Kenya was represented by 10 boxers but were all eliminated in the preliminary rounds, despite sending the largest team among the African nations at the 12th edition of women’s premier boxing event.

"I think the only thing hindering our progress is lack of sufficient sponsorship while yet we know very well that our players have a lot of challenges in meeting their daily needs. Also, if you look at the training itself, it is not good enough and sometimes you see players going to camp to prepare for major assignments without full focus. At times they go into camp thinking about their problems back home yet every day they are supposed to wake up and go for training," observed Zarika.

Elizabeth Andiego, Lorna Kusa, Zone 3 silver winner Christine Ongare, Teresia Wanjiru, Elizabeth Akinyi, Beatrice Akoth, Ann Wanjiru, Stacy Ayuma, Amina Martha and Evelyn Akinyi all bowed out in the preliminary rounds.

Zarika however says all is not lost if the correct measures are put in place, calling upon investors to be more proactive in the game especially in terms of building and developing modern infrastructure.

"Boxing is a sport that can pay you well especially with good sponsors supporting your course and caring about you and your future, not just watching you play to yield short term results for them while your future is unpredictable," Fatuma offered.

For now Hit Squad is in camp preparing for the forthcoming Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games in July.

Eight boxers led by Hit Squad captain Nick Okoth and his assistant Andiego are in a residential training camp under head coach Benjamin Musa at Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani.

Other pugilists in camp include Shaffi Bakari, David Karanja, Bonface Mugunde, Isaac Meja, Christine Ongare and Amina Amina Martha.