'I don't want to promise athletes something I cannot do' - Simbine to host SA's first silver label Continental Tour Meet

African sprint legend Akani Simbine says having a meet named after him while he is still an active athlete is an indication of just how much he believes in the event. South Africa will host its first ever World Athletics silver label track and field meet, the inaugural Simbine Classic Continental Tour on 28 April at the Pilditch Stadium in Tshwane. 

"I wouldn’t put my face or name into something that I don’t believe in. I have done it with the Shootouts and that has gone well," he says, referring to the annual USN Simbine Classic Shootout which features a number of non-standard events such as the 150m and the 300m which take place alongside the annual Curro Podium Schools Meet. 

Simbine poses with the SA 4x400m relay team (Zakithi Nene, Leendert Koekemoer, Gardeo Isaacs, Lythe Pillay) that won gold at the 2025 World Relays. The quartet will take part in the Simbine Classic on 28 April before representing South Africa at the World Relays in Gaborone, Botswana from 2-3 May. Photo Credit: Cecilia van Bers.

"That has grown. The Shootout has become a brand of its own and now we're getting an opportunity to do a bigger meet. We know what we are taking on, we know it’s a monster but at the same time we know we can do it well because of the experience of the Shootout. We are not making promises that are out of our reach, we are making promises we know we can achieve," says Simbine. 

The meet will see 12 events take place, including the 100m, 3000m, javelin, long jump, shotput and hurdles. The three-time Olympic 100m finalist, who will be racing at the event, says although he knows that putting together the competition is a big deal, he believes in it. The former African champion and fastest South African 100m sprinter of all time (9.82) explains that the Simbine Classic is also a legacy that he will someday leave behind. 

From Left: Media Director for Simbine Classic Continental Tour Themba Madima, Event Director Manus Hendriks, Simbine Classic Media Manager Wesley Botton are part of the team that are responsible for putting the event together. Photo Credit: Cecilia van Bers.

"For me, it's always been about setting up things while I am still in the sport. I think it is important to do that. I think if I had decided to do that post-retirement, it wouldn't have gotten as much attention. I know what it needs to be at a meet. I don't want to promise athletes something I cannot do. I am also an athlete and I will be running, I need to make sure I deliver what I promised to the athletes because this is for the athletes. I think it is important that athletes start doing that and see the value of themselves, being able to use that to grow the sport," he explains. 

Simbine's bold new vision which already enjoys the backing of such commercial powerhouses as Balwin Properties, Bidvest and DisChem has also received the thumbs up from the national Department of Sports, Arts, Culture and Recreation. Simbine says Minister Gayton McKenzie is aware of the project and will be more visibly involved in the near future. 

"I have spoken to him (McKenzie) on a numerous occasions and they are in support of it. We still have to finalise a few things but the minister, the premier and government are involved. We are just trying to finalise just the finer details," he says.