Friza Anyango excelled in athletics, football and volleyball while in school but boxing was never in her agenda.
Yet it’s boxing which has opened the door to the garden of plenty for the 24-year-old Friza.
She’s now employed by the Kenya Defence Forces through boxing which has also enabled her travel overseas several times for international assignments.
And she’s the reigning Africa Military Games welterweight champion.
Friza, the last born in a family of nine, was brought up in the populous Kariobangi Estate. Her dad, Jonathan Asiko, was a firm believer in good eating.
- “My parents brought us up well, my dad believed for one to remain healthy you have to eat well.”
As the last born, she obviously ate very well. Friza was therefore physically strong, and this enabled her to be outstanding in sports becoming a successful all-rounder. Among the sports she did extremely well were athletics in which she was a sprinter, volleyball and football as a goalkeeper.
She attended Kariobangi Pentecostal Assembly of God Primary School and Kariobangi North Girls, successfully completing her fourth form in 2017.
Friza was a steady, daring diver and eagle-eyed goalkeeper aiming to emulate Mahmoud Abbas, one of Kenya’s best goalkeepers.
She was more into volleyball however, joining Kasarani Academy when she was still in form two.
On completion of her secondary education, she devoted all her time and energy to volleyball.
Her coach at Kasarani Academy, Peter Mucunah, speaks highly of Friza.
“She played as an outside hitter, a very talented player and disciplined too,” says Mucunah.
“Due to her unending effort, her school team won sub-county championships thrice, and in the Nairobi Region semis twice.
“She won Savlon league Under-18 twice playing for Kasarani Academy, I believed in her.”
Whom did Friza want to emulate in volleyball?
“Jane Wacu and Janet Wanja were my favourite players, I really admired them and hoped that one day I’ll reach their level,” recalls Friza.
While Friza had an ambition to become a top international player like Wacu and Wanja, she realised there’s one dangerous enemy interfering in her ambition: her weight.
She had gained a lot of weight after school, and was having difficulties jumping up to block the ball and her reflexes were no longer as sharp as they were at her normal weight.
Her big appetite – she didn’t spare chicken and fish – was finally taking its toll. She had to move fast to find a solution.
“I started looking out for a sport that could help me reduce my weight,” recalls Friza.
The volleyball pitch was not far from Kariobangi boxing gym. As she passed by watching the huffing and puffing boxers dripping in perspiration, Friza was hooked.
“I fell in love with their workouts seeing boxers sweating I felt this is the sport that will help me cut down on my weight effectively.”
Friza then informed her volleyball coach Mucunah she wants to switch to boxing.
Encouragingly enough, Mucunah was very supportive of Frida’s decision to move to boxing.
Says Mucunah:”Once she became interested in boxing I didn’t force her to continue with volleyball. Much as I knew she was heading to the national team she could also make it in boxing. I then wished her all the best, I remember that time I used to pay for her bus fare to attend training.”
Friza’s marriage to boxing started in 2019 at the Kariobangi Social Hall, famously known as the place where the late South African coach Eddie “Papa” Musi groomed some of Kenya’s polished international boxers such as 1973 African Games featherweight champion George Oduori and Felix Maina who represented Kenya at the 1972 Munich Olympics.
Nicknamed Bangladesh, that’s where the young ambitious Friza, eager to reduce her weight, started her boxing journey under the late coach John Gicheru, Maurice Aswan and Alfred Analo aka Priest.
“The first time Priest saw me training he told me I can become a good boxer, my brother too said the same including other coaches John “Chair” Ochieng of Githurai and Ken Oluoch of Kentrack.
“Their comments really encouraged me, so I worked harder to realise my goal of joining the national team.”
Friza’s first participation in a competitive event was the 2020 national novices tournament representing Nairobi County coached by John Ochieng aka Chair. She clinched the welterweight titie stopping a boxer from Mombasa in the finals.
“The win meant a lot to me, I was happy and grateful to God. I intensified my training because I knew hard work is crucial for success in life, and I was yearning to join the national team and get a job,” says Friza.
Her prayers on employment were finally answered. In 2021, Friza landed a job at the Kenya Defence Forces, and on completion of her nine-month forces training, she took part in the intermediate championships, losing in the finals.
With more confidence and knowledge in the game, Friza was called to the national team in 2023, making her debut in the World Championships in New Delhi, India, in what was a baptism of fire.
Lack of build-up matches and exposure was her undoing, losing her first fight to Olympic welterweight champion, Algeria’s Imane Khelif who stopped the inexperienced Kenyan boxer in the first round.
From then on, Friza became a regular member of Kenya’s national team, participating in the Africa Olympic qualifiers in Dakar, Senegal, World Olympic qualifiers in Italy and Thailand.
Her highest moment in boxing so far is a gold – her first medal in boxing – she won at this year’s Africa Military Games in Abuja where she outpointed Nigeria’s Esther Joseph in the finals.
An intelligent and diligent boxer, Friza is definitely walking on a cake as she heads to Homabay in Western Kenya Region to represent KDF in the final leg of the Kenya National Boxing League from December 19-21.
She’s so grateful to KDF Boxing Club vice-chairman Colonel Paul Mungori and national team coaches Musa Benjamin, David Munuhe and John Waweru for their overwhelming support.
She says under the tutelage of head coach Musa Benjamin she has gained a lot of knowledge in boxing.
“Musa has really hardened me in boxing, he’s a great coach,” says Friza.
To them all, this is Friza’s parting shot:”I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to Sir Mungori KDF for the golden opportunity he has given me God bless him abundantly. It’s been an honor to wear the national colours and compete at such a prestigious level.
“I am also extremely thankful for the valuable training and guidance I have received from you all coaches.Your expertise, dedication, and unwavering support has been instrumental in my growth as a boxer. The knowledge and skills I’ve gained under your mentorship have not only improved my performance but also instilled in me a greater sense of discipline and determination.
“Thank you for believing in me and for giving me the platform to showcase my talent on the international stage. I am truly privileged to have had the chance to train with such a talented and passionate group of coaches. I look forward to continue learning from you and represent our country with pride in more tournaments. Coaches Musa, Davy and Waweru, and Anthony Otieno “Jamal” our President thank you so much for your massive support.”
