By The Arusha News Reporter
Former world marathon champion Juma Ikangaa has pinpointed inadequate preparation as the primary reason behind Tanzania’s poor performance at world athletics championships.
In an exclusive interview with The Arusha News, Ikangaa expressed his concerns about the nation’s declining standards in the sport, stressing that success hinges significantly on rigorous and scientific training regimes.
Flashback: Ikangaa leads the 1989 New York Marathon.
“The secret of my success was not merely the will to win, but the will to prepare meticulously,” Ikangaa stated, highlighting the gap between his era and the current state of athletics in Tanzania.
He expressed concern regarding the existing training methodologies, pointing out lack of scientific approach and substandard nutritional plans as critical areas needing immediate attention.
Ikangaa Wants Revamped Training, Cash Rewards
Ikangaa also suggested the introduction of competitive marathon events with substantial appearance fees and cash prizes to attract world-class athletes to Tanzania.
“You can’t attract world-class runners without attractive awards for the winners,” he added, suggesting that enhancing the incentives could revive the athletics scene in the country.
Ikangaa’s most famous win was at the 1989 New York City Marathon, where he set a course-record time of 2:08:01.
He also won twice at the Tokyo International Men’s Marathon in 1984 and 1986, with his best time being 2:08:10 in 1986. Additionally, he triumphed at the Melbourne Marathon twice, once in 1983 and again in 1984.
Supporting Ikangaa’s viewpoint, Dar es Salaam athletics trainer John Manyama called for a more scientific approach to training.
“Athletics requires precise and well-planned preparations to achieve the desired results,” Manyema said. He believes that transforming the training framework could be the key to unlocking the potential of Tanzanian athletes on the global stage.
