Alhaji Jeng new expert commentator in SVT

A couple of years ago, Alhaji Jeng ended his athletics career. As a 36-year-old and with problems with an injured foot, he left the sport.

- I haven't coached any athletics, or been a coach. But I keep track of athletics, and my best friend is Christian Olsson (Olympic champion in three stages). Although we only play paddle and golf together.

When SVT broadcasts Finnkampen from Stockholm Stadium this weekend, and when SVT broadcasts from the World Cup in Qatar at the end of September, Alhaji Jeng will switch sides.

To be the one who reviews, comments and explains.

- It will be a balancing act, the crux is whether to speak for the five percent who are athletics experts, or to the 95 percent who watch and do not have full control? As a pole jumper, you practice practically all sports, except throwing branches, so of course I can do this, says Alhaji Jeng, who now works for an IT company in Gothenburg after his athletics career.

When asked what he has for memories from Finnkampen he hesitates a bit:

- Honestly. The first times you were selected to the national team it was exciting and fun. But many times Finnkampen came after the big championships and then I was rarely so motivated. I think the first time was in 2002 and I have won several times, but not every time.

- But commenting on Finnkampen is fun. They have to keep track of the best of the year and the points in each branch. The maximum outcome is 16-6, I know that, says Alhaji and laughs.

As a stalwart, Alhaji was Sweden-one for many years. He jumped 5.80 at his best and took a World Cup silver indoors at his best. But in addition to 11 SM golds (inside and outside) in pole vault, he also has an SM gold in multiplayer (inside).

- It's not that strange, anyway. We rod jumpers practice, jump, sprint, hedge daily. But it's good as an expert, you can do a lot of branches, says Alhaji Jeng.

He is not only an expert in sports but also in Doha, Qatar, where the World Cup is decided. For three years, Jeng lived and trained in the heat of the Khaliffa Stadium under super coach Stanislaw Szczyrba.

- We were mostly in the training arena next door. But of course I know a bit about Doha and Qatar that I can tell TV viewers about, even though I didn't live there all the time during those years.

As an old pole-jumper, of course, the old competition branch becomes interesting, not least considering that one of the favorites is Swedish, Armand Duplantis.

- I saw him on a clip when he was 13-14 years old. He was small but jumped high and I really shark when I saw him. I know him better than he knows me. That's it. I'm from another generation. But I would also like to mention that I think Melker Svärd Jacobsson (also stake jump) can peel properly. I've seen him train and it looks good.