Bayi predicts glorious future for Tanzania’s marathoner

Dar es Salaam. Tanzania Olympic Council (TOC) secretary general, Filbert Bayi has lavished praise on on marathoner Alphonce Simbu for finishing fifth at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday.

The 24-year-old, Simbu did not win any medal, but became the first Tanzanian runner to finish higher in Olympics marathon. He eclipsed Juma Ikangaa’s record of finishing the 42km race sixth at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics.

“I think his discipline and hard work paid off. I know him very well since he started running; he is focused and that is what many athletes lack,” said Bayi, who won silver at the 1980 Moscow Games. “He is always hungry for success and I believe that he will make us prouder in the near future.

“We haven’t seen such a performance in Olympics for over three decades, but his heroics on Sunday, signals a bright future for Tanzania. We have brilliant athletes who require proper grooming to snap our Olympics medal drought.”

Simbu, who was not give n a big chance to perform well at the Rio meet, clocked 2:11:15 hours to cross the finish line. Only 2:31 minutes separated him from the gold winner.

The gold medal went to Kenyan Kipchoge Eliud who timed 2:08:44.

The last time Tanzania won a medal at the Olympics was at the 1980 Moscow Games where Bayi (3,0000m, steeplechase) and Suleiman Nyambui who now trains in Brunei (5,000m) bagged silver medals.

Thirty six years on, Tanzania has never replicated the performance of the legendary runners.

The Sunday’s marathon saw Ethiopia’s Feyisa Lilesa, take silver while American Galen Rupp claimed bronze in 2:10:05.

Simbu’s countrymen Saidi Makula and Fabiano Joseph finished in the 43rd and 112th places, respectively.