Olympic Games team bubbles with confidence

Athletes who will represent the country in the Olympic Games set to open in Beijing, China on Friday, have pledged to bring to an end the country's 28 years medal drought in the games. Speaking on behalf of others, marathoner Samsom Ramadhani, who is the 2006 Commonwealth Games gold medalist, said yesterday that the team is in great shape and ready to shock the world. He said although, Tanzania is not given much respect same as Kenya and Ethiopia especially in marathon, Ramadhan believes that the current team has all it takes to compete at same level with runners from the two countries. Ramadhan said; "We will approach this event differently with the major objective being to snatch medals and bring to an end 28 years without medals. We have been undergoing rigorous training everyday as we strive to reach the summit in the world class athletics. In the history of Olympic Games, Tanzania only managed to win medals during the 1980 event in Moscow, where Filbert Bayi and Suleiman Nyambui won silver and bronze in 3,000metres steeplechase and 5,000metres respectively. Ramadhan said; "Personally, it has been a tough road to prepare for the event. Injury setbacks made it hard for me but now I've fully recovered. I got back to business in Singida during the national athletics championships and was unlucky to finish third in half marathon," he said. Ramadhan, along with other marathoners Getuli Bayo and Msenduki Mohammed will face stiff challenge from top runners from Kenya and Ethiopia. However, this time around the world marathon record holder Ethiopian Haile Gebrselassie has pulled out of the event. Gebrselassie, who won two Olympic gold medals in 10,000 meters in Atlanta and Athens, told western media on March 10 that he will not compete in the Beijing Olympic marathon because the city's air pollution may damage his health. But the Ethiopian runner said he would still take part in the 10,000 meters of the global sports fiesta. National athletics coach Juma Ikangaa, said the team is in great shape and he does not fear big names. He insisted that the team just need to be encouraged and supported."The aim is to win medals and we believe that this time around we have the best team. They have qualified with category 'A'. This is a plus to us and we should expect a lot from them," the former world class marathoner said. Swimmer Magdalena Moshi said Tanzania should expect the very best from her. "People should be the best from us. We have been training hard for so long and we think we are now ready to compete with the world best," she said. Tanzania will be represented in athletics and swimming. The games squad consists of ten athletes (eight athletics and two swimmers). Boxer, Emillian Patrick, who had also qualified for the games, was dropped recently after he was implicated with drug trafficking in Mauritius. The athletics team also consists of track event runners. They are Dickson Marwa who will compete in 10,000 and 5,000 metres. The list also has Samson Kwang'w (10,000m), Zakia Mrisho (5,000) and Samwel Mwera (800m) The swimming team has Khalid Rushaka and Magdalena Moshi.