Hit Squad coach welcomes BFK Coaches and Judges training program

Kenya National Boxing team head coach Musa Benjamin has appreciated Boxing Federation of Kenya’s latest move in building capacity for boxing coaches and match judges/ referees.

In the past week, BFK under the tag ‘Ndondi Mtaani coaching training initiative’, conducted a five days coaches training program geared towards imparting crucial boxing knowledge to grassroot coaches making their way up the sport.

In addition to the 33 boxing coaches around Kenya that attended the event at the City Stadium, Nairobi, 11 judges also got the opportunity to attain certification, all acquiring national certificates.

“I want to first thank the Boxing Federation of Kenya administration for this timely gesture,” Musa Benjamin told Mozzart Sport on Monday. “Boxing cannot rightfully exist without offering technical capacity and support to the local grassroot coaches. We always talk about Ndondi Mashinani and this is an example of what it's all about.

“Giving coaches and technical officials an opportunity to pass on the correct basics, skills and boxing fundamentals to the community boxers while they are still young is really important and helpful.”

Coach Musa was among the officials involved in the training program alongside judge Nelson Otieno, Sammy Obiero and Boxing Federation of Kenya Technical Delegate Albert Metito.

The former pugilist believes that the event was a first step towards improving and refreshing the make-up of the national boxing team – Hit Squad.

“We have over the years realized that some of the boxers passed up to us from the junior levels aren’t ready made,” Musa said. “With top and certified coaches down the pyramid, we believe that their standards will improve. It's all about building foundations.”

Being the first training course offered under the new BFK administration, Musa was hopeful that similar programs would be held regularly to reach further regions in Kenya.

“I feel as if I have made an achievement that is not easy to get,” Edwin – coach at G44 Boxing Club and one of the beneficiaries of the training course said. “It took a lot of sacrifice but I am excited for this opportunity and what it means for our young boxers.

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“What happens now is to go back to the gym and use the skills gathered to teach my boxers. As a yoga coach, this is an added advantage personally as I make steps to elevating in this field.”

From national coach level, the next steps for the coaches will include IBA-level Star 1, Star 2 and Star 3 in order. The training program involved lessons such as scoring punches, IBA competition rules and seeding procedures.