Veteran boxer Nick 'Commander' Okoth joins Hit Squad coaching staff after retirement

Renowned Kenyan boxer Nick Okoth watched from the sidelines as the Kenyan team readying up for the upcoming Africa Zone Three Championships took part in its weekly training sessions at the Mathare Police Depot.

Less than an year ago, the Kenya Defense Forces skipper hung up his gloves from competitive boxing and the love for the sport did not look like it had gotten away from the 40 year old as he was actively involved in his usual blue and white boxing attire while hurling instructions to the newbie boxers taking their sparring activities.

“I see a lot of brilliant boxers here,” Nick Okoth said after national team coach Benjamin Musa had signaled the end of the day’s activities. “I for sure didn't leave a gap. I like how fearless they look.”

Years before his prime, Okoth mentioned how boxing used to be a ‘man’ sport and the emotions it would evoke to many rookie boxers making the national team for the first time and the differences he noted with the new breed.

“Honestly, I have seen many boxers run away from action,” Okoth said, referencing KDF boxer Pauline Chege’s sparring session against male opposition. “The talent and courage is there, and I think with those, and the perfect skills and coaching then we are due for some brilliant performances.”

21 boxers to represent Kenya in Zone Three Championships in Dar es Salaam

A gap that existed in the team however, was the captaincy role for the men’s national team squad, that he needed to make sure that was sealed appropriately.

With the Zone Three Championships being the first set of championships for the men’s team since his retirement, Okoth was at hand as coach Musa selected Kenya Police light middleweight boxer Boniface Mugunde to take over the reins as the team skipper.

“I am comfortable with that,” Okoth said of Mugunde’s selection as captain. “He is one of the most disciplined, humble and hardworking boxers in the group and those are the traits that actually pushed me in the past years.”

True to his word, Mugunde was in December 2021 presented as the most disciplined boxer in the national league and the second edition of the President Jamal Champions Cup, and was part of the team that took part in the 2021 AIBA Men’s World Boxing Championships.

“We have had discussions with him, that's for sure,” Okoth said. “What matters now is me just guiding him around how to paint yourself as a leader.

“Simple things like time management and proper communication is what I want him to take over confidently. Communication especially because he is going to face a number of issues in the camp that he will need to attend to and solve. He should be in that position of talking in house before involving the coaching staff.”

On top of that, Okoth is hopeful that his new role - as part of Hit Squad’s assistant staff- will progress smoothly as he hopes to take up active coaching and possibly accompany the Kenyan team of 21 to Dar es Salaam after leading the Youth team earlier this year.

“My services are open to anyone who needs me in the sport,” the two-time Olympian and 4-time Commonwealth Games pugilist said. “I still have a lot to offer for this sport so that we can collectively work to surpass what I achieved.”

The Kenyan team is expected to ramp up their preparations this week before embarking on the April 18-23 event.