Dennis Muthama during a training session at St Teresa's gym in Eastleigh in Nairobi on November 3, 2017. [Photo/Thomas Acala]
“(Dennis) Muthama is a prospective 'good boxer' and could easily be the next James Wangila. He’s good at listening, a disciplined boy and needs exposure to become a force to reckon with.”
That is coach Benjamin Musa’s description of the fast-rising pugilist, who is already a national youth champion in the flyweight category.
Muthama, who was born on March 5, 1998, says he took up boxing while in class four at Joseph Apudo primary school in Makongeni estate, Makadara Constituency in Nairobi County.
“I started boxing about seven years ago. I was idle after school and during holidays and I nearly ended up being a hooligan on the streets, but thanks to one Abuto, who is now deceased, I took up boxing,” says the Form Three student from Kamukunji Secondary School in Kamukunji constituency.
“I played football a little. My parents were not able financially to pay my fees so when Bernard Maingi, who is also a boxing coach, became my guardian to support my education, I decided to take boxing seriously,” explains Muthama and acknowledges that through boxing, he has become a disciplined person.
“I have learnt a lot in boxing, especially discipline. Boxing without education is also incomplete. In fact, education is not just important to boxers, but to all sportsmen and sportswomen,” notes Muthama, who is a member of the Nairobi boxing team.
The youngster trains at St Teresa’s in Eastleigh during weekends and school holidays, but at the Kaloleni gym when schools are in session.
“It’s not easy to train at St Teresa’s when schools reopen because the school timetable does not allow, but I train after school at Kaloleni where I live with my father and mother. I have three other siblings, but they live upcountry in Yatta in Machakos County. No one in the family does sport expect me,” says Muthama and discloses that he puts in at least six hours of training per day when schools are not in session.
Muthama, who recently featured in East Africa Inter-cities championship in Tanzania, hopes to represent Kenya internationally in future.
“It’s every boxer’s dream to fly the flag of his or her country and my target is to represent Kenya one day. Through boxing, I also hope to get a job. Many good boxers leave the sport when they cannot get a job because it’s mostly an amateur sport. A job with Armed Forces, Police, Prisons or any other organization that encourages sports will motivate somebody to continue with the sport,” says Muthama, who looks up to star boxers Floyd Mayweather (USA), Anthony Joshua (England) and Kenyans Rayton Okwiri and female pugilist Fatuma Zarika.
“They are disciplined and play well,” Muthama says.
After missing the last two legs of the National Boxing League held in Thika and Nanyuki due to schoolwork, Muthama is expected to feature in the final leg slated for November 9-11 in Mombasa.
The Kenya Open championship is also coming up later this month where Muthama could get his chance to fly the Kenyan flag at the 2018 Commonwealth Games. Kenya will use the local championship to select its flag-bearers for the quadrennial extravaganza to be held in Australia.
Leading sports betting firm SportPesa has been supporting various sports in Kenya, including sponsoring the National Boxing League. Through the #Tujiamini na SportPesa campaign, Muthama can improve his skills and become a celebrated sportsman in a sporting nation like Kenya and beyond our borders.
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