LUKEMAN WINS MEDAL FOR KENYA BUT NO OPPONENT FOR SONIA
▪️ The Kenyan meets Algerian boxer in the finals on August 1 while Sonia’s fate awaits organiser’s decision
Kenya is already assured of a medal following Lukeman Shaffi’s qualification to the finals of the African School Games boxing tournament in Annaba, Algeria.
Boxing starts on Sunday, July 27.
Lukeman, son of Kenya’s international star boxer
Shaffi Bakari, made it to the finals of the 46kg weight category with his Algerian opponent Hesnaoui Mohamed Amin. They were the only ones in their respective weight division.
“Those were the only two entrants in their weight category, it means we have a medal in the bag,” says Kenya’s national team head coach Musa Benjamin.
Lukeman, from Kenya’s Coastal city of Mombasa, will battle it out with Algeria’s Hesnaoui Mohamed Amin in the finals on August 1.
National novices and intermediate light-welterweight champion Sonia Atieno from Kisumu County will have to wait for the organisers to decide her fate since she was the only entrant in the light-welterweight division.
While IBA rules state a boxer cannot win a medal without stepping into the ring, the World Boxing’s rules are silent on a boxer without an opponent like in the case of Sonia.
Asked on whether Sonia will win a medal on a walkover, Musa Benjamin said the ball is now in the court of the organisers to decide.
“It’s not really a walkover because there was no opponent but the organisers are yet to state their rules on single entries,” said Musa.
“As a youngster I would suggest Sonia wins gold to motivate her because these are School Games, and it’s not her mistake to be the only entrant in her respective weight category.”
Lukeman’s parents, Shaffi Bakari and wife Saida Salama, were over the moon when I shared the news of their son is in the finals.
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“I’m overjoyed my son is in the finals, I thank Allah for the progress he has made winning a medal for the first time he’s representing Kenya,” says international star boxer Shaffi Bakari, adding:”I thank coach Izoo (Issack Kweyu Makokha) at Legacy Gym in Bamburi for working overnight to see Lukeman in the national schools team. I’m confident he’ll win gold under the guidance of the national team head coach Musa Benjamin, a wonderful coach that I have respected since 2011 when I travelled with him for the Commonwealth Youth Games. Coincidentally Musa is again with my son in Algeria. I’m confident my son will perform better than me. He has fitted very well in my boots.”
Lukeman’s mum Saida Salama in Mombasa says if she had wings she would fly to Algeria.
“Leo lazima nile biryani kuku, furaha ilioje (today I must eat biryani and chicken I’m so happy, wow!,” says Lukeman’s mum.
She went on:”As a parent and mother of Lukeman I thank Allah my son who I love so much is in the finals. We hope he will bring us a gold medal. Boxing is in the blood of both Lukeman and his dad. One night he punched me dreaming he was in the ring, I had to alert my husband you’re not in the ring stop punching me I’m not your opponent. Like the father, my son is addicted to boxing. Wherever he is even in the house you’ll see him shadow boxing. Go! go! my lovely Lukeman you can beat the Algerian in the finals.”
The boxing competition in the inaugural ANOCA African School Games has attracted 63 boxers from 13 countries:
1) Algeria 14
2) DR Congo 6
3) Egypt 11
4) Eswatini 2
5) Ghana 4
6) Guinea 1
7) Kenya 2
8) Lesotho 2
9) Namibia 4
10) Senegal 1
11) Sierra Leone 1
12) Togo 2
13) Tunisia 13
