Sammy Kitula
11 July 2008
Nairobi — The 1988 Seoul Olympic Games was a landmark, not only for Kenya but for Africa as well. That was the year the late Robert Wangila became the first African to win an Olympic gold medal in boxing.
But it is difficult for local boxing fans to understand just what went wrong with the sting and flair associated with the national amateur team, "The Hit Squad." Going by past results, the team seems to have handed over the mantle to Cameroon and Zambia, if the recently held inaugural AIBA President's Cup in Taiwan is anything to go by.
Losses in Taiwan
Kenya had five boxers at the tournament - all of whom have clinched tickets to Beijing Olympics. They are two-time All Africa Games gold medallist, Suleiman Bilali, (light flyweight), Nicholas Okoth (featherweight), Nick Abaka (welterweight), Aziz Ali (light heavyweight) and Bernard Ngumba (flyweight).
The losses in Taiwan came fast and furious. Bilali was trounced in the pre-quarter finals by Birzhan Zhakypov of Kazakhstan while Okoth lost to Arturo Santos Reyes of Mexico 15-5 on points in the semi-finals.
The rest of the Kenyan team fell by the wayside. Light heavyweight Aziz Ali lost in the quarters to Imre Szello of Hungary, Abaka was eliminated by an American opponent and flyweight Bernard Ngumba was defeated by Tulashboy Doniyorov of Uzbekistan.
The "Hit Squad" who were at one time among the best in the in the Commonwealth nations, have vowed to bury the depressing results as they rally to regain their lost glory.
"It has been a long wait for sure to restore our glory. Since the late Wangila won the country's only Olympic gold in Seoul, we have never got near there again," said Bilali.
The team's head coach, Steve Gacheru, said that with the kind of boxers that were in camp for the Games, he has no doubt that they will emulate the 1987 All Africa Games boxing team that won eight gold medals.
"In 1987 when Kenya hosted the Fourth All Africa Games in Nairobi, the team collected eight out of 12 gold medals on offer to lift the overall boxing title. We are sure to do well in Beijing," said Gacheru.
This Olympics will be a different ball game for police officer, Bilali. The Games will mark the end of an international career for the 32-year old boxer.
After losing at the quarter-final stage of the Sydney Olympics to the eventual gold winner, Lozano Munoz of Spain, the boxer sees this as his last attempt of the elusive medal. "I have waited for a long time for this moment to come. After I lost by a single point (11-10) to Munoz of Spain in 2004, I feel that this is my last chance," he said.
"I don't think I will be as fit for the next Olympics (London in 2012). I have done all my homework and I'm, sure of returning with a gold," he added.
After the only boxer at the Athens 2004 Olympics, David Munyasia was disqualified from participating at the Games, this put Kenya at a very precarious position at the time, owing to the fact that the other qualifier, Bilali was out injured.
"It was a very trying moment for all of us. It came as a shock. We had high hopes of landing a medal, but that wasn't meant to be," said Bilali.
Injured in the jaw
Meanwhile, injured boxer Nick Abaka is expected to report to camp any time now to join his teammates in residential training.
Abaka, who was injured in the jaw during the recent military games in Uganda, has been receiving treatment and has shown remarkable improvement.
Whatever the process for the boxers, it is the end that will justify the means - a medals haul at the Beijing Olympic Games will be the yardstick of Kenya's superiority in sports.
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