Two promising young athletes from Tanzania are stepping up their preparations as they gear up to represent the country at the inaugural Under-17 African Schools Championship, scheduled to take place in Algeria from July 26 to early August this year.
The duo Baraka Fidelis Sanjigwa and Grace Charles are undergoing intense training sessions twice a day, in the morning and evening, under the guidance of national athletics coach Robert Kalyahe.
Baraka will compete in the 100m and 200m sprints, while Grace is set to contest the 200m and 400m events.
Speaking to The Respondent Online, Coach Kalyahe expressed confidence in the athletes’ potential to make the nation proud.
“My athletes are showing great enthusiasm, discipline, and determination. They’re eager to compete on the international stage and bring home medals for Tanzania,” said Kalyahe.
He noted that the two athletes recently participated in national school games, which served as a valuable platform to assess their performance and readiness.
“The school games were a good benchmark for their progress. Now, I’m fine-tuning their techniques and focusing on international strategies to prepare them for tougher competition,” he added.
Kalyahe emphasized that the training camp has already produced noticeable improvements in the athletes’ performance and physical condition.
“They’re progressing well, and I’m very satisfied with their current form. Our goal is to reach the podium and raise the Tanzanian flag high.”he added
The team is expected to depart for Algeria on July 23. The athletics competitions at the championship will run from August 1 to August 4, 2025.
This marks a major step for Tanzania in promoting youth participation in international athletics through school-based talent development.