Coach plots bright future for Simbine

File picture: Akani Simbine's coach says there is no reason why he cannot break the 10 second barrier for the third time this season.

File picture: Akani Simbine's coach says there is no reason why he cannot break the 10 second barrier for the third time this season.

Published Sep 3, 2015

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Cape Town - Akani Simbine's coach says there is no reason why he cannot break the 10 second barrier for the third time this season in Amsterdam on Saturday.

Werner Prinsloo believes if Simbine is in the right mind set when he settles into his starting blocks at the Flame Games he can achieve this target in the 100 metres.

“The thing with Akani is that he is an absolute perfectionist. At the moment he is totally frustrated because he was unable to qualify for the 100 metres final at the World Championships in Beijing. As his coach I can fully understand his feelings, but he should not be too hard on himself.

“He should realise he finished 11th at the World Championships, which was just two positions away from competing in the final. I can predict without hesitation that Akani will come back from this disappointment being a better athlete. That is why I am convinced that he will run a fast time on Saturday if he is in the right mind-set.

“Personally I won't be surprised if he runs a sub-10sec time. Akani always races to be the best and to win and it is this attitude that makes him such a good athlete.”

Prinsloo is excited when asked about the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio.

“I have already started to work out what can be done to help Akani be at his best at the Games. After some serious consideration I realised it would be wrong to make any major changes to the way he has been training this season.

“The programme seemed to have worked for him. All we will have to do is to slightly increase the intensity of his training and do some fine tuning as well.

“The one aspect on which we will definitely have to work is Akani's start. I have no doubt he will be able to consistently run fast times if his start can be improved, especially considering his top speed from 60 metres onwards compares favourably with that of Asafa Powell, Jamaica's former world record holder.”

If Prinsloo could have it his way, Simbine's main focus in the build-up to the Olympics will be the 100 metres.

“I won't mind if he competes in the odd 200 metre race, but he should do so just to enjoy it. The 100 metres is the race in which he can win a medal at the Games. Wouldn't it be simply awesome if South Africa's sprinters should win medals in the 100 metres, 200m metres and the 400 metres next year.

“With calibre athletes like Wayde van Niekerk (400m), Anaso Jobodwana (200m) and Akani and Henricho Bruintjies (both 100m) this is not an unrealistic dream.”

Prinsloo emphasised Simbine's only local race next year will be at the South African Championships. “To make sure that he would be at his best when he started racing in Europe this season, we have already cut down on his local races and it worked. So next year his only local race will be in the South African Championships.” Simbine will compete in the Brussels Diamond League meeting next week. - African News Agency (ANA)

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