The US embassy basically told an entire coaching staff to stay home. Tanzania sent its national cross-country squad to Tallahassee, Florida, for the global title race completely unsupervised after immigration authorities denied travel permits to every single official. Federation boss Roghat John confessed that only nine runners received clearance, while Head Coach Andrew Panga got rejected. This absolute administrative disaster forces the group to compete in North America without any technical leadership on the sidelines.
Things got expensive because the organization paid a massive ninety thousand dollar deposit to prove the runners would return. John explained that each athlete required ten grand in collateral to satisfy visa officers. Star runner Alphonce Simbu and team captain Gabriel Geay helped crowdsource funds to cover these steep costs since the federation lacked sufficient liquid cash.
Geay takes charge of teammates like Emmanuel Dinday and Regina Mpigachai as they route through Nairobi. The delegation presses forward minus their support crew in what looks like a logistical nightmare.
Things got expensive because the organization paid a massive ninety thousand dollar deposit to prove the runners would return. John explained that each athlete required ten grand in collateral to satisfy visa officers. Star runner Alphonce Simbu and team captain Gabriel Geay helped crowdsource funds to cover these steep costs since the federation lacked sufficient liquid cash.
Geay takes charge of teammates like Emmanuel Dinday and Regina Mpigachai as they route through Nairobi. The delegation presses forward minus their support crew in what looks like a logistical nightmare.
