Africa-Press – Kenya. National boxing team captain, Boniface Mugunde has tipped Kenyan pugilists to prevail over their opponents during the forthcoming Africa Olympic qualifiers.
Mugunde reckons that Hit Squad boasts sufficient depth to seal a decent number of slots in the 2024 Paris Olympics. “We have some very talented members of the squad who displayed immense potential during the national trials held last week,” Mugunde said.
“I do not doubt the nation’s capacity to thrive in the qualifiers. We are going to send more boxers to Paris compared to 2020, where we only had four,” he remarked.
The Africa Championship light-middleweight bronze medallist said he and his teammates were responding well to practice. “We are getting ready for the big day. We all hope for the best.”
Mugunde noted that the country’s improved performance at the IBA World Boxing Championships attests to the huge traction it has gained on the global stage.=
“In Uzbekistan, three Kenyan boxers sailed to the last 16 for the first time since 2013. That’s a clear indication that we are gradually finding our footing on the international stage,” Mugunde said.
Mugunde, 29, has vowed to spearhead the Kenyan hunt for Olympic berths at the upcoming qualifiers. “We’ve been training for a while now and I can assure you that the morale in the camp has been fantastic. We are all determined to make the final team,” Mugunde said.
“I give God praise for giving me the chance to join the team; It is never simple. I believe everyone is anticipating the Olympics, which is my main focus now,” Mugunde said.
“I’d like to thank our coaches for the good job they are doing for us and I promise to work closely with them to improve our performance in subsequent competitions,” he continued.
He will be heading to the qualifiers buoyed by the impressive form he exhibited in Uzbekistan, where he was among the three Kenyan boxers to storm the quarters after a decade.
He also clinched the gold medal in March at the fourth edition of the annual Eastern Africa Police Chiefs Cooperation Organisation (EAPCCO) Games in Kigali, Rwanda.
The hard-hitting puncher reckons the world championships provided him with the necessary edge to vanquish his opponents in the upcoming qualifiers.
“I feel I’m ready for the task ahead because it is only recently that I won a medal in Rwanda, where we attended the regional inter-police games.”
Mugunde promised to punch vehemently for a seat on the Kenyan plane to France while acknowledging the fierce competition he anticipates ahead.
“Nothing worthwhile comes easily, so if one wants to succeed, he or she must give it their all.
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