Kenyan Olympic boxer Nick Okoth has been trending for all the right reasons despite losing to Mongolia’s Erdenebat Tsendbaatar.
This is after he gave an interview in Sheng, much to the delight of netizens. For years, athletes and other local sports personalities have given interviews in English and some have struggled to express themselves.
Okoth opted to use Sheng to talk about the fight he narrowly lost and Kenyans online have urged the rest of his Kenyan counterparts in Tokyo to follow suit.
“Round one nimengáng’na poa. Juu ni jamaa, yeye hanijui, mimi namuonanga akicheza ye huanga anakimbiza watu wake. Kumuangaliangalia na mi nilikua napanga game ya mine. Hiyo round one ikiisha hivi nilikua nimemfeel…coach akaniambia niko chini.
“Kurudi ya pili nikaona kumbe ni mtu hayuko, hayuko kabisa, nikamiliza hiyo round ya pili coach akaniambia nimechukua game. Alafu kidogo round ya tatu nimemaliza nimejua nimeshinda game lakini kidogo uamuzi nikaskia ameshinda,” Okoth narrated.
(I know him well and even during the bout I knew how he was going to fight. I know I out-boxed him in the opening two rounds and in the end he was declared the winner and we all have to accept that).
Here are some of the reactions:
Nick Okoth you’re our true Kenyan hero & patriot. We’re highly proud of you and privileged to have been represented by you at the Olympics. We love you! https://t.co/uozLPYUHhv
— Millicent Omanga (@MillicentOmanga) July 30, 2021
One of the most emotional and patriotic moments in the Tokyo Olympics. Nick Okoth is a hero and isnt amazing that he gave his interview is sheng????????????pic.twitter.com/yrhF2yoM9e
#TeamKenyaGoldRush — KEYLAH???????? (@Keylah_Ke) July 30, 2021
Nick Okoth tried his Best. Living Legend to us.#Olympics2020https://t.co/uYxNlIKCbb — Dj Dave Ke (@djdave_ke) July 30, 2021
Nick okoth used the platform to promote the rich language of swahili.big up to him — brian wattanga (@BWattanga) July 30, 2021
@nickokoth umefanya kazi poa. Kenya is proud. Wewe Wacha wa translate iyo Sheng umebanja#Curfew#chrisnatrickymilele#BottomUpEconomicsKE — Opati Western (@WesternOpati) July 30, 2021
Nick Okoth is an example of the true #Olympic and sportsman spirit, a role model to this generation, tenacity, will, self determination, never giving up, courage to go on past the tears and disappointments, these are the values that keep us going in life that’s not always smooth — LindaMMuthuri (@muthuri_linda) July 30, 2021
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