Africa Zone III bantamweight champion Shaffi Bakari, 29, is confident he can still earn a place in the national team ‘Hit Squad’ for the upcoming international assignments.
The Police serviceman won gold at the just concluded Africa Zone III Championship in Kinshasa, Congo after returning home empty-handed from last year’s edition.
Bakari was among the boxers who represented Kenya in DR Congo where Team Kenya won six gold, five silver, and seven bronze medals and is hopeful he will do well in the Commonwealth Games set to run from July 28 to August 8 in Birmingham, England. “Last year I came back home empty handed after participating in the Zone III championship in Kinshasa but after a formidable training program from our coaches, here we are with 18 medals after working hard while in camp at the Mathare Depot and ending up in second position overall,” said Bakari.
“I’m glad I managed to perform well but as always it’s easier to be number, the hard task is to maintain it. I hope to be in Team Kenya for the African Championship and Commonwealth Games.”
After the Kinshasa extravaganza, Hit Squad will be competing in Istanbul, Turkey – at the AIBA World Women’s Boxing Championship primed for May, 2022.
