| Bayi:
A man of principles
Fatima I.Bapumia & Boogie Juma
He was the first Tanzanian to break the world 1500 metres record at the 1974
Commonwealth Games in Christchurch, New Zealand. Yet, Filbert Bayi was
rather angry when he learnt that the queen would not be awarding him with a
gold medal he deserved. Thirty years later, Bayi opens the long-closed
windows in his heart as he speaks to The Express in an exclusive interview.
The Express: At that very moment when you were
receiving the gold medal, what was your feeling?
Bayi: I was angry. I knew before the race that Queen Elizabeth was
supposed to award medals to top winners and to perform the closing ceremony
later, but after my race when I was at the medal podium someone else gave me
the medal. I felt the organisation did not think it was important for the
queen to award medal to a black.
The Express: Was there a lot of racism during the Games?
Bayi: I don’t know, but the queen was there and she closed the Games
after the race. You see there was another athlete there from New Zealand,
who was very good and the organisation was expecting him to win. He was
white (he stressed). But instead a black African from a poor country broke
the world record. Anyway, I wanted to win and win I did.
Bayi was working as an aircraft mechanic in the Tanzania People’s Defence
Force, when a German coach spotted him during a sport events and brought him
into the limelight, giving Bayi a new career as a professional athlete.
After participating in 150 races, in which he took the first position 90
times, and serving the army as aircraft mechanic, Bayi decided to retire
from both athletics and the army and go back to school for a Bachelor’s
degree in Education. Currently, he is running a primary school named after
him.
Bayi: We go through different stages in life. I was an officer, then
a sportsman and now I am an educationist.
The Express: Did sports and army discipline complement each other or did you
feel they are two separate worlds?
Bayi: It did. You see in sports you need commitment and I have a
philosophy myself – hard work, commitment and sacrifice. Whatever I do in
life I a have a mission to see it happen.
The Express: Did you learn that in the army?
Bayi: Yes. The army taught me a lot. It also gave me time to train. I
was working at the air wing and living there, but the army moved me to Kilwa
Road where I used to forget about aircraft mechanics and just concentrate on
training. I used to run 20 kilometres everyday. I would go to National
Stadium to work on my speed and to the beach to gain on strength. So yes,
both demand discipline.
The Express: Had you not been in sports, you would
probably be working as aircraft mechanic; do you have any regrets you left
the job?
Bayi: Usually in life you can love two things, but you can’t have
both, I have no regrets. I am not giving myself any credit but I am proud of
myself (smiles) I have fulfilled my dreams, I have no complaints in life.
The Express: In 1976, Tanzania did not participate in the Olympics and this
was just two years after you won the gold medal at the Commonwealth Games.
Had we taken part, do you think victory would have been yours?
Bayi: (Nodding his head as he speaks)
I was upset when I learnt Tanzania had boycotted the Games. I was really in
a good shape and I lost an opportunity to prove myself. My graph was up at
that time. We (Tanzania) could have bagged our first gold medal in Olympics.
I had to wait another four years for an opportunity like that but then there
was the age factor.
The Express: Did you participate again?
Bayi: Not for 1500 meters, I ran 3000m and I won silver medal, second
position. (Drawn back in the past) I could have won that race…when I saw the
tape I realised where I had gone wrong, I got tired in the last lap.
The Express: Were you fond of sports since childhood?
Bayi: I am a cow herder, and while we herd cows we hunt, so I grew running
in high altitudes in Karatu and that is where I received my early informal
training in running (laughter).
The Express: What did your parent think of that?
Bayi: My father died when my mother was pregnant so I have not seen
my father, but then my mother remarried according to the customs and she is
still alive. In her 70s, she still lives in Karatu.
The Express: She
must be very proud of you.
Bayi: When I was leaving my home town to join the army, she was
crying. She thought I would get lost in the city. But I would visit her
frequently so then she wouldn’t worry much.
The Express: So what did she say when you had to tell her you were going
abroad for the Games?
Bayi: I didn’t even tell her, she wouldn’t understand. But she
monitors news very well so she heard about me on the radio and was very
happy. She loves me a lot.
The Express: Do you have a family of your own?
Bayi: I have a wife and four children, I have been married since 1977.
The Express: Did she have to be an athlete?
Bayi: There were no conditions but you’ll be surprised she was a
netball star playing for the Tanzania Harbour’s Authority team, and we had
first met at the army games in 1974.
The Express: Would you want your children to follow your footsteps?
Bayi: I would, but my first three children are not even interested in
sports. The little one is showing some interest in football, may be he’ll
take after me.
The Express: Do you
think this country needs proper sports schools?
Bayi: Of course it does. In fact I have a foundation that I
established to promote sports in Tanzania. It was launched by former British
High Commissioner Richard Clarke.
The Express: Oops! Did that bring back memories of 1974?
Bayi: (raising his eye brows) It did. But Clarke was very supportive
and I didn’t even mention it to him. Let the past remain in the past.
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