Coach T backs Dambile to shine in Diamond League debut in Rabat

Dambile, who has a personal best of 19.77 seconds, withdrew from the national 4x100m relay squad shortly before the World Relays in Botswana because of injury. The world championships finalist now returns to competition against a world-class field.

Among his rivals will be Olympic champion Letsile Tebogo of Botswana, Canadian Olympic gold medallist Andre De Grasse, and American star Kenneth Bednarek, a two-time Olympic silver medallist.

Speaking to SABC Sport, Dambile’s coach Thabo Matebedi, popularly known as Coach T, said he believes his athlete is capable of producing a fast time when the meeting gets underway at 8pm.

"He is in a very good position to produce 19.7/19.6. He's been training very well and is in good condition, we just hope that the track in Morocco is perfect and fast. If we get a fast track, he will run sub-19.6," declared coach T. 

READ: Bayanda Walaza set for first race in Italy after injury recovery

The 24-year-old, who has won back-to-back national 200m titles, opened his season with victory at the Kip Keino Classic in Nairobi before being forced to withdraw from relay duty through injury.

Coach T says Dambile has recovered well and is now in excellent shape ahead of Africa’s only Diamond League meeting.

Matebedi says the strong bond among the athletes in his training group continues to motivate them to perform at their best on the international stage.

He believes the success of training partner Gift Leotlela, who won in Shanghai and finished second in Xiamen on the Diamond League circuit, will inspire Dambile to deliver a strong performance in Rabat.

"There is a sense of brotherhood between them because they support and push each other. If one performs it brings everybody up," says Matebedi. 

South Africa will have a strong presence at the Diamond League meeting in Rabat tonight. Dambile will be joined by former world indoor 800m champion Prudence Sekgodiso, middle-distance star Tshepo Tshite, Olympic 400m finalist Zakithi Nene, and national 400m hurdles record holder Marion Fourie as they fly the South African flag in Morocco.