L. MathekaOREGON22: Ray of hope for Omanyala
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Reading Time: 2min | Thu. 14.07.22. | 13:03
The men’s 100m heats are set for 18:50 local time (04.50hrs EAT).
Africa’s fastest man, Ferdinand Omanyala, has gotten a reprieve and is set to jet out to Oregon later today for the World Athletics Championships that is scheduled for 15-24 July.
We are very pleased to secure both USA and UK visas for all our athletes including our sensational athlete @Ferdiomanyala . Our athletes are now set for both the world championships and commonwealth games! @AMB_A_Mohammed @JoeOkudo pic.twitter.com/IA7kjHZNJl
— Ministry Of Sports, Culture & Heritage (@moscakenya) July 14, 2022
Visa hitches had doomed his hopes of featuring in his first ever World Championship. However, having received the all-important travel document on Thursday morning, the third fastest man this year is set to leave the country this evening and reports indicate he will arrive in Oregon two hours 40 minutes to the heats of his race.
Onto the next flight🛫🛫 to Oregon.
— Ferdinand Omurwa OMANYALA (@Ferdiomanyala) July 14, 2022
Am positive that I will compete.
Thanks so much for your support and prayers. pic.twitter.com/dEuMygijjh
"I want to thank everyone who has worked around the clock to ensure I get the visa. There's no one really to blame, it is the system and we couldn't circumvent it. I want to thank CS Amina and President Uhuru Kenyatta, they've really worked hard on this," he said.
The men’s 100m heats are set for 18:50 local time and there's a possibilty that he could be late. However Omanyala remains optimistic.
"It is just about getting to Oregon. I will be there to compete and I pray that I make it on time and I pray that God gives me the strength to handle the pressure. Athletics Kenya's Barnaba Korir has told me they are talking to World Athletics to allow me to have my own heat which would be nice but I am hope I will be there on time to compete with the rest. I am always ready. I have been through alot and I have a strong mentality. Once I am there on the starting line I will forget all these. It is a lesson to everyone out there - challenges are here to make us stronger." he added.
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