MOUNT HANANG IN NOTHERN TANZANIA IS HOME TO WORLD CLASS ATHLETES

Katesh is the capital city of Hanang District of Manyara Region, mt Hanang is the 3rd tallest mountain in Tanzania after mt Meru and mt Kilimanjaro. Hanang District is home to most famous athletes who have represented Tanzania well, led by the legendary  Gidamis Shahanga (Commonwealth Games gold medalist in the marathon 1978 in Edmonton Canada, again won a gold medal in 10,000m in Brisbane Australia in 1982). Gidamis Shahanga become an inspiration to hundreds of young athletes and was seen as an icon and a celebrity both in Manyara Region and Tanzania as a whole. Born in Jarodom Vilage Shahanga is the first born in the family of Sumni Gituru Shahanga, his younger brother (Alfredo Gidabit Shahanga) took up the sports as well.

Gidamis Shahanga's success later produced a pair of world class runners who carried the flag of Tanzania across the world during the 1980s and late 1990s. The late Simon Robert Naali born in Mogitu Village won the bronze medal in 1990 Commonwealth Games marathon in  Auckland New Zealand, Andrea Sambu broke the world Jr. record 3,000m and is the only runner to has won the world cross country championships in Belgium in 1990. Sambu was born in Masakta Village 30 kilometers east of Katesh.

Gewayi Suja, another Jarodom origin won the bronze medal in 1998 Kuala Lumpur Malasia, Mr. Gewayi Suja is a police officer at the Manyara Region HQ. Francis Naali wa the 2002 Commonwealth Games champion held in Manchester United Kingdom, he is the younger brother of the late Simon Robert Naali, he also works as a police officer in Kilimanjaro Region. Other athletes who have won medals or major international meets includes Alfredo Gidabit Shahanga (1989 Berlin marathon in Germany), The late Boay Akonaay has just passed away after a short illness was one of the most famous runners of the mid 1990s, Mr. Akonaay placed 6th at the 1994 Boston marathon and was the Fukuoka marathon champion in the same year, he was born in Bassotu Village 25 kilometers north of the town of Katesh. John Nada Saya who is also 'no longer with us (passed away two years ago) won several big marathons in South Korea and in Europe as well, was also born in Jarodom Village, Jarodm Village is near by the Katesh township and is bordering mt Hanang forest.

All athletes mentioned above came from Hanang District, 'Tanzania has won very few medals; but more medals out of the few are claimed by athletes from Hanang District'. Almost all athletes mentioned have participated in one or more than one Olympic Games.

Comments

  1. This is big achievement to people of Hanang. We don’t need only to proud of it but to sustain the potentials and spirits showed by our mentioned athletes legendary. Athletics traits are still passing, many youths athlete are still in the streets, and many more are still coming/dawn. We need to help them to expose their potentials. WE CAN IF WE REAL WANT.

    God bless Hanang, and their People.

    ReplyDelete

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