Ramba uchinyora ndima ino - Mu 1988 Cross de San Sebastián Bekele akarwa naJohn Ngugi mumakwikwi ekupedzisira, asi akapedza nhangemutange semumhanyi wechipiri shure kwemukwikwidzi wenyika ari kutonga. Ikoku kwakaratidzira kuvandudzwa kwechinguvana kwechimiro nokuda kweicho chaizova kubuda kwake kwokupedzisira kwenyika yose pa1989 IAAF World Cross Country Championships
. Mumutambo iwoyo wakaitirwa muStavanger akapedza ari gumi nematatu uye, pamwe chete naTesfaye Tafa, akasimudza Ethiopia kusvika pachinzvimbo chechitatu mumakwikwi echikwata.