The Citizen (Dar es Salaam)
Suleiman Jongo
1 May 2008
The Tanzania athletics team yesterday made an eleventh hour pullout from the ongoing continental championship in Addis Ababa after suffering a financial setback.
Athletics Tanzania (AT) secretary general, Suleiman Nyambui said despite securing funds sufficient to travel and meet accommodation costs, the organizers would not accommodate the Tanzania team in the fixture.
Nyambui said his body had secured funds out of time for AT to meet confirmation deadlines set by the organisers.
The continental event got underway on Tuesday with more than 2000 athletes from 43 African countries competing.
The proposed athletics squad lined up for Addis event comprised Faustine Mussa, Hamis Mkadamu, Muhiddin Yassin, Marco Joseph and Kulwa Rushega.
Others were Arnold Longung'a, Ezekiel Japhary, Damian Chopa, Makame Ally, Natalia Joseph, Sara Ramadhani, Janeth John, Fabiola William and Fabian Joseph.
The team trained in Arusha for two weeks ahead of the now aborted trip to Addis.
However, Nyambui said the athletes would continue their training sessions in Arusha in preparation for other international events.
"We cannot dissolve the training sessions as the camp has athletes who are gearing up to win an Olympic berth in Beijing," the AT official noted.
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