<\/p>\n
Simbine\u2019s comments come as a new generation of sprinters makes contrasting choices about training and education. Rising talents Bayanda Walaza and Udeme Okon have reportedly declined scholarship offers in the United States (US), opting to remain in SA to continue their development. In contrast, teenage prospect Karabo Letebele has chosen the overseas pathway, joining fellow SA Shaun Maswanganyi in America.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Simbine, long one of the country\u2019s most consistent performers on the international stage, said both routes can work, but stressed that a move abroad should be driven by a clear purpose rather than assumption.
\n\u201cThere has to be something that draws you to leave,\u201d Simbine said. \u201cFor me, I had the opportunity to leave, but I didn\u2019t. I stayed, and it worked out\u2026 At the end of the day, the athlete needs to decide what makes sense.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Simbine pointed to recent domestic success across sprint disciplines as evidence that elite development can happen locally, with athletes benefiting from familiar support structures. \u201cWe don\u2019t have to go out the country to find or make your talent better,\u201d Simbine said, adding that athletes can also pursue education in SA.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Despite advocating for local pathways, Simbine praised Letebele\u2019s early progress in the US and emphasised that long-term success would depend on patience, discipline and consistent development. Simbine encouraged Letebele to remain grounded and committed to the process.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
–SABCSport\/ChannelAfrica–<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":23442,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false},"news-type":[20],"class_list":["post-33001","news","type-news","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","news-type-sport","entry"],"acf":{"short_description":"South African (SA) 100m record holder Akani Simbine has urged emerging athletes to consider building their careers at home, arguing that SA now has the coaching expertise and facilities to develop world-class talent without the need to relocate abroad.\r\n","published_date":"","news_description":"South African (SA) 100m record holder Akani Simbine has urged emerging athletes to consider building their careers at home, arguing that SA now has the coaching expertise and facilities to develop world-class talent without the need to relocate abroad.","form_embed":"","author":"","image_caption":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.channelafrica.co.za\/channelafrica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news\/33001","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.channelafrica.co.za\/channelafrica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.channelafrica.co.za\/channelafrica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/news"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.channelafrica.co.za\/channelafrica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news\/33001\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":33002,"href":"https:\/\/www.channelafrica.co.za\/channelafrica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news\/33001\/revisions\/33002"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.channelafrica.co.za\/channelafrica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/23442"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.channelafrica.co.za\/channelafrica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=33001"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"news-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.channelafrica.co.za\/channelafrica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news-type?post=33001"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}