Fencing might not be a popular sport in Africa, but in Senegal young sportsmen and women are being introduced into the fight club. In the capital Dakar, one primary school is passing the knowledge of the sport to young pupils.. Here, the pupils are taught twice a week on how to use the foil and the wire-mesh masks. For the young sportsmen and women, the sport is aiding in their personal development.
Cira Mboup, a student fencer says: “We have been practicing fencing over the last three months and I think it is very important for our intellectual training because it allows us to be disciplined and to have self-control. My dream is to represent Senegal in the major world fencing competitions.”
“We were offered to practice several sports but I chose fencing because I would like to build my career around it and it is a real passion for me,” says Fatima Daigne, another student fencer.
Several other schools have also incorporated fencing in their curriculum as part of the preparatory class. School heads in the country also want to make fencing a popular sport alongside football.
