Akani Simbine: Exciting time for us in South Africa

The Continental Silver Tour Challenger meeting marks a big step forward for track and field in the country, with the event, founded by Simbine himself, set to make its debut at Pilditch Stadium on Tuesday. 

Speaking to SABC Sport during a media briefing at the University of Pretoria, Simbine admitted he is both tired and excited as his long-time vision becomes a reality. 

"Firstly, I'm excited to be having this, to be able to do this, but also thank you to you guys [media], you guys are also telling the story," said Simbine.

"I think it's very important not just to say from my side there's excitement, there's nerves, there's happiness, but at the same time it's gratitude and appreciation to you guys on the other side for being able to tell the story.

"But yeah, it's an exciting time for all of us that are involved in athletics, you and I have grown in athletics for many years, known each other for many years – we can write a book about it.

"But it's time for us to actually have a product that is South African that we can to the world, so yeah."

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Adding to the excitement, Canadian sprint star and seven-time Olympic medallist Andre De Grasse will line up in the 100m alongside Simbine, who believes having an athlete of that calibre competing locally will inspire younger South African sprinters. 

"I think it's great to have Andre here, having myself running against Andre with the younger kids, these are people they were watching growing up," he added.

"Now you're running against someone that you were watching as a kid and he's right here next to you, and it's really great because it also shows them the reality that I can actually do this, I can be this athlete that competes against these guys and deserves to be in the lane next to them.

"And it's important to be able to do that and be able to put ourselves in that position, and next year hopefully we gain more international stars to come who want to come and run in South Africa so that our younger athletes can say, 'I raced against this person and that's where I got my belief.'"

The main programme at Pilditch Stadium on Tuesday is scheduled to run from 15:45 to 18:00. Tickets are expected to sell out as fans look forward to seeing top athletes compete on home soil.