Expectations! A Threat To Omanyala’s Perfomance At Commonwealth Games.

“Every challenge you face today makes you stronger tomorrow. The challenge of life is intended to make you better, not bitter. Persistence and resilience only come from having been given the chance to work through difficult problems. No matter how much falls on us, we keep moving,” Omanyala.

The Commonwealth Championship is starting and the world is watching for Africa’s fastest man, the electric Ferdinand Omanyala.

The 100m sensation has openly said he would brush aside his heartbreaking experience in the Oregon competition as he sets his focus on a golden finish in Birmingham.

Omanyala admitted that failure to get a visa on time saw him arrive for the Oregon event late and worn out, costing him big time.

He admitted that he was under immense pressure to scale unprecedented heights but managed to contain the situation nonetheless. Having arrived in Birmingham days before the competition, the African champion is confident that he is bringing gold home. Kenyans are expecting no less of him, and the pressure seems to mount up on expectations.

“There has been a lot of pressure and attention on me but I always say it's all on you. As humans, we tend to succumb to pressure in some situations but for me, I always say just smile, relax and everything else will fall in place,” he was quoted saying. He however reiterates that he had no regrets whatsoever for how things had turned out in Oregon.

“I am not disappointed not going through to the finals, the most important thing is that I showed up and gave it my best. I have no regrets heading to the commonwealth games.”

Ferdinand Omanyala in Birmingham. Photo: The Standard

Omanyala will now be seeking to dethrone Akani Simbine as the Commonwealth Champion. For him to perform at his best, he needs to manage expectations and manage a very stable mindset, otherwise his expectations of winning might only create anxiety and pressure.

The underperformance of team Kenya generally, in Oregon, is fueling pressure from all quarters.

Sports psychologists have insisted that for one to manage such expectations, they should firstly stay away from “I have to” statements. These statements are result-oriented and only serve to increase performance pressure and anxiety.

Instead they should ask themselves, “What can I do?” as this is based in the present and focuses your attention to aspects of your performance that you can control in the moment.

Go Omanyala! Go Team Kenya! You are our champions.