By Suleiman Jongo for The Citizen
The national athletics team leave confidently today for Berlin, German to compete in the IAAF World Championship, which starts from August 15 to 23.
The athletes were yesterday presented with the national flag by the Government, beaming confidence of returning back with medals.
"It's my hope that we are not only going to compete as mere participants but competitors", said team captain, Christopher Iswege in a brief ceremony to bid them a farewell held at the New Africa Hotel in Dar es Salaam.
Speaking before handing over the flag, Mohammed Kiganja, who is an acting secretary general of the National Sports Council (NSC) urged the athletes to have patriotism and should compete desperately aiming for medals.
"You are going to represent millions of Tanzanians, you should have a good image while there and compete for the country�s honours", said Kiganja.
The team�s participation in the global championship comes after the Tanzania International Container Terminal Services (TICTS) recently donating about Sh10.4m/- for their preparations and travel expenses to and from German.
Allan Turner, who is the Executive Director of the Executive Solutions, a firm which has entirely been helping Athletics Tanzania (AT) to earn sponsorship from the corporate firms, said that they feel honoured to see the container firm continued their financial support.
"We feel very much proud of your continued sponsorship, this will not only promote our local athletes, but also put Tanzanian flag high", he said.
Among the athletes, who depart today aboard Swiss Air include a 10,000m national champion, Christopher Iswege and Zakia Mrisho.
The list also includes Andrea Silvin, Getuli Bayo, Desderi Hombo, Faustine Baha, a budding long distance runner, Ezekiel Jafary, Marco Joseph and Dickson Marwa, the 2006 Sun Herald City winner.
AT assistant secretary general, Julius Msomi, thanked the sponsors, TICTS and the New Africa Hotel for sponsoring the team. He said that the team departs early with a view to acclimatize with the weather.
The team will be under tutelage of newly recruited Cuban coach, Jorge Luis Bravo, who has taken over duties few days before the team's departure, but expressed his optimism that they will excel.
The Championship will served as a trial for the next year�s Commonwealth Games to be held in Indian and the 2012 London Olympic Games.
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