Simbine and 'The Beast' resume battle for fastest man in Africa: Akani fires warning at SA Champs

Akani Simbine went almost unchallenged for his South African 100m title, but the country’s leading sprinter faces a far sterner test next month when he will likely face off against Africa’s fastest man, Ferdinand Omanyala.

Omanyala, who watched the Athletics South Africa (ASA) National Championships from the stands in Potchefstroom on Thursday, is in the country preparing for the Grand Prix series starting at Pilditch Stadium in Pretoria (12 April).

Nicknamed "The Beast", Omanyala beat Simbine in the fourth Grand Prix of the series in Germiston last year.

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The Kenyan watched on as Simbine blew away the local field, especially in the heats, when he clocked one of his fastest-ever times in next to no wind, of 9.92.

It was a scene-setter for what could be a fierce rivalry starting at the Grand Prix series and finishing at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest in August.

"I’m just happy to be running well and feeling good and having everything around me be in a good space," said Simbine about his form.

"My confidence has been up since I started training. I just had to get my head right. That’s one big play right now.

"My confidence is there, I believe, and everything around me is going okay. I’m in a good space. We all want to go to World Champs and 'do best' there.

"Last year, a lot of things were happening but, this year, my confidence is back up and I don’t have to prove anything. I’ve gotten to a point where I don’t have to prove anything to anyone.

"I know I am great, I am fast and I’m one of the best sprinters in the world.

"I don’t have to prove anything to anybody. I just have to go out there and train hard and do better every