Ferdinand Omanyala. Photo/Courtesy
When news broke that Ferdinand Omanyala wanted payment before racing alongside global sensation IShowSpeed during his Kenya tour, social media commentator George Diano didn’t hold back.
“I respect Omanyala’s decision to ask for money,” Diano said, “but he should have waited for Speed’s management to approach him first.”
Diano explained that Omanyala, despite his speed on the track, seems to miss a crucial point: branding often beats talent.
“IShowSpeed is not just another celebrity; he’s a tsunami,” Diano added.
“Doing something with him and almost the whole world recognizes you. That’s why Tengetenge management had to fly him all the way from Uganda.”
According to Diano, Omanyala’s public demands were more about chasing attention than seizing opportunity.
After seeing Speed race Tebogo, the 200m Olympic gold medalist from Botswana, Omanyala jumped in, expecting to leverage his own name brands.
“But he bit more than he could chew. His weight and form don’t allow him to compete with fit athletes anymore,” Diano said bluntly.
The commentator pointed out that IShowSpeed has shared moments with legends like Usain Bolt and Cristiano Ronaldo—who even gifted him a custom Lamborghini—without asking for money.
“Yet a local man from Hamisi wants payment just to interact with the biggest influencers,” Diano said.
He argued that Omanyala failed to grasp that Speed’s appeal comes from going directly to the people, ignoring celebrity hierarchies.
Even fellow Kenyan athletes like Julius Yego have embraced such opportunities wholeheartedly, Diano noted.
“Go to Eldoret, and you’ll see record holders mingling freely with the public. Omanyala fumbled big time. He needed IShowSpeed more than anything.”
In the end, Diano’s verdict was sharp: Omanyala’s glory days on the track may be over, and if he wants relevance, content creation might be his next stop. On the track, at least, he’s “completely finished.”