The provisional national athletics squad has received 10m/- to facilitate its preparations for the All Africa Games, scheduled to take place from September 4 to 18 this year in Brazzaville, Congo.
Speaking with the ‘Sunday News’ the Athletics Tanzania (AT) Deputy Secretary General Ombeni Zavalla said the support came from Tanzania National Parks Authority (TANAPA).
Zavalla acknowledged TANAPA for the support and said that athletes who have been training in various places in the country in readiness for the Games will assemble together and commence its official training for the track and field event in Dar es Salaam.
According to Zavalla, the track and field team which comprise seven athletes will be undergoing an intensive training in Dar es Salaam, while the three long distance runners will continue with their camp in Mbulu District, Manyara Region.
Zavalla urged more sports stakeholders to support the team, which will carry the national flag in the 11th edition of All Africa Games.
Former AT Secretary General Suleiman Nyambui said few days before he quit his post that the national squad under the tutelage of three coaches – Francis John, Shaban Hiki and Francis Nade, was undergoing intensive training to ensure the athletes meet the qualifications marks required for the World Championship and All Africa Games, which are scheduled for August and September respectively.
Nyambui said the final national squad will be named after AT had been satisfied with the standard and the qualifications by the athletes. He also said that the number of athletes who will participate in the two events will depend on the qualifications and government ability to facilitate the team in the two events.
The athletes who were said to be in the national squad at that time were Bazil John, John Sylvester, Simon Joseph (800m/1500m) respectively, Hafidh Khalfan (800m), Augustino Sulle (1500m/5000m), Gabriel Gerald (5000m) and Alphonce Felix (5000m/10,000m).
Others are Emmanuel Giniki (10,000m), Ismail Juma (10,000m), Joseph Theophil (10,000m), Ezeikel Jaffar, Fabian Joseph, Dickson Marwa and Fabiola William all marathon, Natalia Elisante (5000m/10,000m), Catherine Lange (5000m/10,000m) and Failuna Abdi (5000m).
The 11th edition of All African Games is scheduled for September 4 to 19 in Brazzaville, Congo and this edition marks the 50th anniversary of the Games, as well as their return to Brazzaville, which hosted the first edition in 1965.
The 15th World Athletics Championships is schedule to be held in Beijing, China from August 22 to 30 at the Beijing National Stadium popularly known as ‘Bird’s Nest’ which also hosted the 2008 Summer Olympics.
By BETRAM LENGAMA , Tanzania Daily News
