‘Kimbia na Simbu’ – Campaign Launched to Support World Marathon Champion, Nurture Next Generation of Athletes

The Alphonce Simbu Foundation has launched the “Kimbia na Simbu (Run with Simbu)” campaign, calling on sports stakeholders in Tanzania and East Africa to support world marathon champion Alphonce Simbu in his preparations for major international competitions, while also raising funds for the construction of a modern sports training center expected to cost over TSh 600 million aimed at developing future athletics talent.

The campaign comes at a time when Simbu continues to make history in world athletics after becoming the first Tanzanian athlete to win a gold medal at the 2025 World Athletics Marathon Championships held in Tokyo, Japan, a milestone that has placed him among the elite marathon runners globally.

Speaking during the launch of the campaign, Ntua Communications Ltd Director Moses Ntua said the idea behind “Kimbia na Simbu (Run with Simbu)” was inspired by Simbu’s remarkable achievements and the need to ensure he receives adequate preparation ahead of upcoming major international competitions.

Ntua said Simbu has not only become the face of Tanzanian athletics globally but has also continued to inspire a new generation of athletes through his international success. In addition to winning the 2025 world marathon title, Simbu also finished second in the Boston Marathon for two consecutive years, 2025 and 2026, further strengthening his reputation in long-distance running.

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Simbu’s achievements extend beyond his world title. The athlete, who also finished fifth at both the Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, has consistently demonstrated resilience and competitiveness at the highest level of marathon running. His ability to compete against top athletes from nations with a strong athletics tradition has kept Tanzania visible on the global sporting stage.

Ntua added that preparations for major races such as the Sydney Marathon in Australia, the Berlin Marathon in Germany, and the Chicago Marathon in the United States require strong stakeholder support. For this reason, the foundation has opened the opportunity for individuals, companies, and institutions to contribute from as little as TSh 1,000 and above.

“Everyone can be part of this journey. You don’t have to run on the track with him—you can support him financially or otherwise. Our slogan is ‘Every Step is a Victory’ because we believe every contribution matters to Simbu’s success and the development of athletics in general,” said Ntua.

The campaign will also feature special running events with Simbu in Arusha, Mwanza, and Dar es Salaam, where jogging clubs and other sports enthusiasts will have the opportunity to run alongside the athlete in half-marathon events.

Director of Technical Services at the Athletics Tanzania Federation (RT), Alfredo Shahanga, said the campaign comes at the right time as it will not only help Simbu achieve his international goals but also create a platform for identifying new athletic talent through the proposed training center in Ngateu. Shahanga, who made history by winning the Berlin Marathon in 1989, following in the footsteps of Tanzanian legend Suleiman Nyambui who won in 1987, said investment in youth development remains the only way to ensure Tanzania continues producing world-class athletes.

Simbu said the campaign reflects his dream of ensuring that his international success is used to open doors for the next generation. He said the training center will serve as a hub for nurturing young athletes from Tanzania and across East Africa.

According to Simbu, the “Kimbia na Simbu (Run with Simbu)” campaign is not only about preparing for upcoming races but also about building a sustainable athletics development system in the country. He said the planned sports facility, expected to cost over TSh 600 million, will include modern training infrastructure, accommodation, and talent development programs, making it one of the key athletics centers in East Africa. He emphasized that his greatest dream is to see more young athletes achieve opportunities similar to his and go on to represent Tanzania in major global competitions.

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Tanzanian marathon star Gabriel Geay praised Simbu for initiating the campaign, saying it is a significant step for athletics development in the country. Geay, who holds the national marathon record of 2:03:00 set at the 2022 Valencia Marathon and is among Africa’s top marathon runners, said stakeholders should come forward to support Simbu as his success opens doors for many other athletes in Tanzania. Geay, through his Gabriel Geay Foundation, has already established a training center in Madunga, Babati, Manyara, aimed at developing athletics talent.

For Simbu, the greatest victory may not be the world gold medal he won in Tokyo or his achievements in major international marathons, but rather the number of young athletes who will get the opportunity to realize their dreams through the training center and the “Kimbia na Simbu (Run with Simbu)” campaign.