Nyambui: No athlete has Games marks

Dar Salaam. Athletics Tanzania (AT) has categorically denied reports that long distance runners Msenduki Mohamed and Andrew Sambu have qualified for the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

AT secretary general, Suleiman Nyambui said yesterday that Msenduki and Sambu have not secured qualifying marks for the Glasgow Games as reported by a section of the media.

The games scheduled for July 23 to August 3 in Glasgow, Scotland, will see 4,500 athletes from various countries around the world compete for 261 medals in 17 sports at 14 venues around Glasgow.

Besides athletics, the country will also field players in cycling, swimming, Paralympic, table tennis, weight lifting and judo.

“Reports that two athletes have qualified for the Commonwealth Games are false. The fact is no Tanzanian runner has so far secured qualifying marks for the games,”

AT secretary general, Suleiman Nyambui, said yesterday. His statement comes only days after the two marathoners claimed that they qualified for the multi-sport event during last month’s China Marathon.

Sambu and Msenduki claimed that they clocked 2:14.30 and 2:12.08 respectively in the men’s marathon in China, claims Nyambui described as false.

Nyambui said they found out, after contacting the race’s organisers, that the two runners did not score such marks.

Meanwhile, AT is striving to raise Sh300 million for the national athletics team’s residential camp ahead of the Commonwealth Games.

Last month, the national athletics governing body named a 40-member provisional squad for the games.

The runners were to report at camp at Hombolo in Dodoma two weeks ago, but lack of funds forced AT to postpone the camp indefinitely.

“The truth is that we are strapped for cash. The athletes could have reported at the camp last month had it not been for lack of funds.

“We have approached various institutions and individuals for financial support, but none of them has so far responded positively,” said the AT official.

He added: “Tanzanians should know that the Commonwealth Games are only five months away. Athletes of other countries have been on residential training since last month,” he added.

Nyambui noted that their provisional squad comprises young runners who must undergo adequate and scientific training if they are to make a mark at the games.

“Success in sports is usually the outcome of adequate and scientific preparations,” Nyambui, who won a silver medal in the men’s 5000m at the 1980 Summer Olympics, said.