Ferdinand Omanyala Discusses Professional Considerations Before Racing IShowSpeed: 'I'm Not an Influencer'

Africa’s fastest man, Ferdinand Omanyala, has explained why he chose not to compete against American streamer Darren Watkins Jr., popularly known as IShowSpeed, in an informal race.

Speed is currently touring Africa, with Kenya among his destinations, sparking excitement among fans who hoped for a head-to-head showdown with Ferdinand Omanyala.

However, the much-anticipated race is unlikely to take place, as the streamer has already spent two days in Kenya, with Tuesday, January 13, marking his third day in the country.

In a previous interview, Ferdinand Omanyala stated that he would only consider racing the popular streamer if at least $50,000 was at stake. He has since gone on to explain the reasoning behind that stance.

Ferdinand Omanyala explained that his career is built around professional athletics rather than online content creation, noting that his livelihood depends entirely on his performances on the track.

He pointed out that he is backed by major corporate partners who support him because of his sprinting career, and any activity outside formal competition must make financial sense.

The African record holder said taking part in a casual or exhibition-style race would require him to step away from structured training and commercial obligations, something he does not do lightly.

He emphasised the difference in risk between the two, explaining that while the streamer could easily return to creating content even if something went wrong physically, his own situation is far more delicate.

“I'm not an influencer, man. I do this for money, and I have big companies, Adidas, Toyota. These guys are paying me because of running. Coming to do something like an exhibition run means I have to pause some of the things that I'm doing and come to you,” Ferdinand Omanyala told Mozzart Sport.

“You know, for him, after that run, God forbid, he gets an injury, he continues with his streams, even with crutches. But for me, what happens, I need to earn from running, so that's why I need to cover my bases.”

Ferdinand Omanyala further noted that he is open to the idea and hopeful that such a matchup could be arranged. However, he made it clear that, if it did not materialise, there would still be room for them to spend time together off the track.

He emphasised that any race involving him would have to be handled with seriousness and proper planning, explaining that he would not participate in short-distance sprints or casual runs.

According to Ferdinand Omanyala, the only acceptable format would be a full 100m race, conducted under conditions that reflect the significance of the moment.

He added that a well-organised exhibition race would be beneficial for fans, especially young people who admire both him and the streamer.

“And I saw he raced my guy, Tebogo. I'm looking forward to seeing what he can do against me. So, I'm looking forward to that. I'm hoping that that will happen. If not...we just hang out,” he added.

“If not running, we can plan that, because if we're running, man, it has to be serious. I'm not doing 50 metres, I'm not doing 60 metres. It's 100 or 100. So, if he comes and wants to race, we have to do a proper one. We have to fill a stadium. Just leave two lengths for that race.

“I mean, it has to be in a stadium with fans and something that will be exciting. Because I know so many kids want to see him, and they want to see me race against him. So, I mean, it will be a good exhibition run in a stadium. So I'm hoping that we can put that together.”