Dar es Salaam came to a standstill for several hours today as the historic inaugural Simba Marathon took place, creating a major buzz around Coco Beach and surrounding areas.
The race, held for the first time in the country, had a unique atmosphere as it attracted thousands of participants, sports enthusiasts, and Simba fans who turned up from the early hours of the morning to witness and take part in the historic event.
Simbu Adds to the Excitement
One of the biggest attractions of the marathon was the presence of Tanzania’s internationally renowned athlete, Felix Simbu, who participated as one of the event’s special guests.
Simbu’s presence elevated the profile of the competition and provided major inspiration to young runners and fans who had the opportunity to run alongside him in the 5-kilometre, 10-kilometre, and half-marathon (21-kilometre) categories.
Beyond the competition for medals and prizes, the Simba Marathon has touched many hearts because of its main social objective. A significant portion of the proceeds raised through race registration will go directly towards funding medical treatment and providing health insurance for former Simba SC players in need, covering those who played for the club from its establishment in 1936 to the present day.
The initiative has been praised by many football stakeholders in the country, who described it as a noble way of caring for the heroes who helped build the history of the historic club.
The race formed part of the wider celebrations marking 90 years since the club was founded. Simba officials expressed their satisfaction with the strong response from fans, who turned out in numbers to help reach the target of approximately 5,000 participants, while promising that today’s success would provide a new direction for sports.
Following the major success witnessed today at Coco Beach, the club’s management officially announced that from 2027, the Simba Marathon will become an annual event. The race will be formally included in the club’s yearly events calendar and become part of the popular Simba DAY celebrations.
