Omanyala narrates how travelling 'alone' to international assignments affects him

ATHLETICS Omanyala narrates how travelling 'alone' to international assignments affects him

Abigael Wafula 13:30 - 31.05.2023

He will be hoping to bounce back when takes on the tough field that awaits him in Florence.

Africa 100m champion Ferdinand Omanyala has shared how difficult it is travelling without a team due to lack of enough funds.

Despite his accolades, Omanyala is yet to get to the standard of other international athletes who travel with their coaches, physiotherapists, and nutritionists among other vital people.

He noted that it is mentally daunting to travel alone and he sought the government to come through and stretch a helping hand.

“It’s mentally tough to be alone during such tours and it can be lonely but you have to stay strong. We still don’t have enough funds to travel with the whole team and how I wish the government could help,” said the Commonwealth Games champion, as quoted by Nation Sport.

The reigning Kip Keino Classic champion was speaking as he was about to board a flight to Florence, Italy for the Golden Gala, another Diamond League Meeting.

He had travelled with his coach Daniel Ayiemba to the Diamond League Meeting in Rabat, Morocco but funds could not allow them to travel together to Italy and so Ayiemba had to fly back home.

Omanyala will be without the coach but instead, will enjoy the company of his manager, Marcel Viljoen. In Rabat, Omanyala finished third behind world champion Fred Kerley and South Africa’s Akani Simbine.

He will be hoping to bounce back when he takes on the tough field that awaits him in Florence.

Meanwhile, his coach Ayiemba also reiterated that travelling and training solo have a negative impact on a sprinter. He added that the Rabat assignment is now history and Omanyala is focusing on the next task.

“Travelling and training alone can affect even the strongest of them. There is little one can do without funds,” he said.

Speaking about Omanyala's loss in Rabat, Ayiemba said: "Some things just happen and he has to learn the hard way.