Akani Simbine explains decision to miss the African Senior Championships

The experienced sprinter says his decision is not because of injury or poor form, but because he believes younger athletes deserve the opportunity more than him at this stage of his career.

Simbine, who recently made history by launching the successful Simbine Classics at Pilditch Stadium, explained that he has already achieved a lot on the African continent and now wants to help grow athletics in a different way.

The world indoor 60m bronze medallist believes giving upcoming athletes a chance to compete at the continental championships could change their careers and help them gain valuable international experience.

“I am doing other things for athletics in Africa, and I think for me to go to the African Championships I would literally be taking a spot from someone else who would appreciate it even more and get the opportunity to become African champion,” Simbine told SABC Sport.

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The former African 100m champion said he understands how important such competitions are for developing athletes because he also benefited from those opportunities earlier in his career.

“Winning a medal or competing at the African Championships can change another athlete’s life and I have already experienced that. I feel like it is now time to give somebody else that opportunity,” he explained.

“I cannot keep holding on to the spot. The youngsters must go there, gain experience, improve themselves, and grow in the sport.”

While Simbine is stepping away from the continental championships, he remains deeply committed to improving athletics in Africa.

Through the Simbine Classics meeting, he hopes to help bring world-class track and field events to South Africa and inspire the next generation of athletes.

One of his biggest dreams is to eventually see a Diamond League event hosted in South Africa. Currently, Marrakesh in Morocco is the only African city that regularly stages a Diamond League meeting.

Meanwhile, Athletics South Africa has named a strong 34-member squad for the championships in Ghana, with several young athletes expected to use the event as a platform to announce themselves on the international stage.

The 32-year-old sprint star also revealed that he has not yet decided whether he will compete at the next Commonwealth Games.

For now, his main focus is on competing in Europe during the Diamond League season as he continues preparing for the major global championships later this year.