AT to register Tanzania and international athletics agents

Athletics Tanzania (AT) has said it will register all domestic and international athletics agents in a bid to uplift the standard of the sport in the country.

AT Secretary General Suleiman Nyambui

AT secretary general, Suleiman Nyambui, said in Dar es Salaam yesterday the move was reached in the association’s general meeting held on December 6 last year.

He said the meeting noted that the presence of people that operate as athletics agents without license from AT is among the drawbacks to the development of the sport in the country.

Nyambui also said the meeting came up with strict guidelines that will govern the sport at the domestic level.

“We want people, who have understanding of athletics management, to be involved in organising and arranging athletics events…so far no one has come up but it is my hope many people will come, ” he said .

Although AT appreciates that domestic athletes are involved in many international events to get money for their survival, Nyambui said, the association believes there is a need for good planning on the part of the athletes .

“We know many of our athletes earn a living through competitions but we are of the view that they need to plan well…a few athletes are employed and it will be difficult for us to stop them from competing in the events, all we want is sanity so we can easily follow them .”

“We (AT) have been complaining that our athletes are exploited by their agents and managers, they (athletes) don’t have time to either rest or prepare for next events…our athletes are competing everyday, they get tired, lose concentration and, at the end of the day, they perform poorly in domestic tournaments ” he said.

The association’s stand has come at a time many athletics enthusiasts have been complaining on the standard of domestic athletes in events held in the country.

With the national athletics championship having no cash prizes, many elite athletes either skip the event or perform below standard in the event but the same athletes perform well in international events, which have attractive cash prizes for winners.