NAIROBI, July 21: Former World and current African 10,000m champion Charles Kamathi will have to wait a little longer for a place in the Kenya Olympic team, as the selectors adopt a wait-and-see attitude on another contender Nicholas Kemboi.

The 20-year-old Kemboi, who set the second fastest 10,000m time in the world last year, picked up an ankle injury in training last month and subsequently missed the Olympic trials in June and the Africa championships in Brazzaville, Congo.

Kamathi, gold medallist at the 2001 Edmonton World championships, finished third during the trials, and did not make the qualifying Olympic mark. Hover, he went on to win the African title in Brazzaville.

"Since we had made the pledge to give an equal opportunity to the two runners, it is only fair to give Kemboi a change to prove he is up to the challenge to make the team," said national athletics coach Mike Kosgei.

Kosgei, a member of the Olympic team selection committee, said Kemboi has been entered to compete over 5,000m at the Stockholm GP meet on July 27 and depending on his time, the selectors would pick the best athlete for the third and final spot in the individual 10,000m. -AFP