‘BUFFALO’ now READY FOR FARAH: Mwangangi eager for rematch with Britain’s Mo in Rio
Athletics
By
JONATHAN KOMEN
| Jul 14, 2016
His buffalo-horn celebration mime often leaves athletics fans in awe during major championships.
And Caleb Ndiku Mwangangi, better known as Buffalo, is gearing up for a second battle against Britain’s double Olympic champion Mo Farah when men’s 5,000m action gets underway in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, next month.
Farah beat him to gold at the IAAF World Athletics Championships in Beijing, China, last August and a lot remains in store ahead of the Samba nation showdown.
But Mwangangi, the man of ‘swag’ or ‘Buffalo’ as he is known in athletic circles, has raced in one Diamond League since competing at the IAAF World Indoor Championships in Eugene, USA, in May.
He has opted to pitch tent in Iten, perhaps plotting to bring down Farah and has always fired warning shots to Ethiopians, the dread of Kenyan runners in long-distance running.
He basks in the Africa 1,500m Championships, World Indoor 3,000m and Commonwealth Games 5,000m titles and only misses an Olympic medal.
“I did not compete in races this season as I devoted much of my time to preparing for the Olympics. However, I picked an injury around March, which took some time to heal. I am now fit for the big battle,” said Mwangangi.
“I decided to train in Iten after competing in a few indoor meetings abroad. I hope to meet Mo Farah, and I am certain he will not win a double this time round. We will ensure we don’t play second fiddle to him again,” he said.
Mwangangi will team up with Olympic bronze medallist Thomas Longosiwa, 2013 world silver medallist Isaiah ‘chairman’ Kiplang’at and Geoffrey Kamworor, the world 10,000m silver medallist.
“A buffalo is a strong animal, which is so daring and unmoved. And as a police officer and world indoor champion, I always feel inspired with the animal’s traits to go for victory,” said Mwangangi.
“The Buffalo footprints are still wet and it can trample the opposition... hahaha,” he joked.
After almost one year in sheer agony of mind games, Mwangangi, Kamworor and Kiplang’at will face off with Farah.
Mwangangi, the 2014 Sports Personality of the Year (SOYA) winner, loves posting a combination picture of his buffalo trademark and Farah doing his ‘mobot’ signature on his Facebook page with a caption “The next big face-off after ?#MayPac” which clearly depicts the Boxing Fight of the Century last year between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao.