He first emerged on the road with runner-up finishes at the 2012 Rennes 10K and Istanbul 15K. He won the latter race the following year. His international debut came at the 2013 IAAF World Cross Country Championships, where he placed sixth and shared in the team gold.[1] He gained selection with a runner-up finish in the junior section at the Jan Meda Cross Country behind Hagos Gebrhiwet.[2]