Sarah Achieng set to miss out on prestigious WBA Intercontinental bout

Commonwealth Super lightweight champion Sarah ‘Angel of war’ Achieng will not take part in her projected WBA Intercontinental Championship fight against Germany’s Oshin Derieuw scheduled for Saturday February 4 2023 in Belgium due to delays in her visa application.

Speaking to Mozzart Sport on Wednesday, Achieng’s coach and trainer Alfred Analo confirmed the news, citing communication from fight promoter Marnix Djugardin on Friday night that “approved an alternate opponent at 10 am Pacific (end of workday Friday)” as both him and Achieng had failed to secure visas in readiness for the fight.

The promoter also indicated that “because of the proximity of the fight [just less than one week ahead of the event}], he saw the need to arrange a different opponent, this time, 33 year old Francia Elena Bravo from Colombia, set up to take up Achieng’s spot in the ring.

A communication from Boxgirls Kenya, affiliated to Achieng and her coach, confirmed that both parties and the Belgian embassy had indeed received stamped invitation letters and visa requests respectively from Royale Federation de Boxe and VZW-WPM Promotions, Boxgala Ingelmunster, Belgium on December 7 where Promoter Djugardin was supposed to “pay for travel, food, accommodation from February 2nd to February 5th.”

Accommodation for both was set to be in Hotel Herenhius, Roeselaarsetraat, Izegem in Belgium, with the short stay supposed to culminate in a flight back on February 5 after Saturday's fight.

As per coach Analo and BoxGirls representative Grace, all visa applications – Temporary Protected Status (TPS) paperwork, requirements and appointments with the Belgian Embassy had been done on January 11th 2023 without any response since, despite numerous unanswered calls to TLS – who would normally respond within 10 working days, with an excess of ‘up to 85 calendar days’ for additional documentation from Belgium’s Immigration offices – where Kenya is listed among the countries needing authorization.

With futile support coming from the Kenya Professional Boxing Commission and the Ministry of Sports to hasten the approval process, Achieng’s agent in the UK Frank Pittal wrote a message asking the relevant associations "to issue a statement condemning the organization in Belgium for its not normal behavior.”

In addition, Pittal promised to “take steps against the High Government officials for disrespect in providing communication almost two and a half weeks after applications were completed and for financial compensation.”

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“It is unfair how we have been treated from both embassies,” coach Analo said. “Our sports ministry should intervene because this is saddening and uncalled for. We also ask for compensation.”

BoxGirls reported a total of Ksh. 38,000 used in the whole visa application process that has now gone down the drain as Achieng misses a golden opportunity to contest for a ‘dream’ WBA title. She asked for some time before commenting on the issue.

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