FRESH from his remarkable victory at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Tanzania’s marathon star Alphonce Simbu has credited his success to years of consistent training - and more recently, the momentum he gained from winning the NBC Dodoma Marathon earlier this year.

Speaking at a special recognition event hosted by the National Bank of Commerce (NBC) on Wednesday evening at the bank’s headquarters in Dar es Salaam, Simbu said his participation in the 21-kilometer NBC Dodoma Marathon in July played a pivotal role in shaping his Tokyo performance.

“My participation and victory in the NBC Dodoma Marathon served as a major source of motivation going into the Tokyo championships,” Simbu said. “I used that race as a test of my physical readiness, and the confidence I gained in Dodoma laid the foundation for my win in Tokyo.”

The NBC event was organized to honor Simbu’s outstanding achievement and was attended by senior bank officials, led by Managing Director Theobald Sabi, alongside stakeholders from the athletics community, including Athletics Tanzania (AT) President Rogath John Akhwari and fellow athletes.

Expressing heartfelt gratitude, Simbu praised NBC for organizing a world-class marathon in Dodoma, which he described as a crucial preparation ground for international competitions.

“I’m deeply grateful to the organizers of the NBC Dodoma Marathon and to NBC Bank for creating such a competitive platform. Today, we view it as a reliable benchmark for gauging our performance before stepping onto global tracks,” he said.

He also acknowledged the overwhelming support he received following his Tokyo triumph, extending thanks to both government leaders and corporate partners.

“I’ve received an outpouring of congratulatory messages — including from senior government officials, and even President Samia Suluhu Hassan herself.

“It’s truly humbling. And today, receiving formal congratulations from NBC Bank — a key player in supporting athletics — is yet another proud moment. Their decision to host this recognition event speaks volumes about their commitment to the sport. I sincerely thank them,” he added.

During the ceremony, NBC’s Managing Director Theobald Sabi praised Simbu and the athletics fraternity for continuing to raise Tanzania’s flag high on the global stage.

“On behalf of the Board and Management of NBC Bank, I extend our deepest congratulations to Alphonce Simbu and the leadership of Athletics Tanzania.

Simbu, as a core member of the NBC Dodoma Marathon family, has made history for our nation. Completing the Tokyo marathon in 2:09:48 is a milestone we’ll celebrate for years to come,” Sabi said.

Athletics Tanzania President Akhwari echoed the sentiment, thanking NBC for its invaluable support and emphasizing the rising profile of the NBC Dodoma Marathon as a vital benchmark for Tanzanian athletes.

“This medal Simbu has brought home is historic — never before achieved in our country. And it comes at a time when the NBC Dodoma Marathon has matured into a race of international standing. This proves that Tanzania now has a competitive platform capable of preparing athletes for the world stage — with results to show for it,” said Akhwari.

He further noted the ripple effect of the Dodoma race, pointing out that other top performers from the July event had also excelled in recent international competitions. “Just today (Wednesday), athletes who placed second in the Dodoma race back in July have delivered strong performances at another marathon in South Africa,” he revealed.Looking ahead, Akhwari announced that Athletics Tanzania is developing a modern talent identification and nurturing program to sustain and build on the country’s growing success in athletics.