Sakhile aims for Olympics
A grade 11 pupil of Lowveld High School, Sakhile Ngobe, started fencing in the Nelspruit Sport Arena at the Mpumalanga Fencing Club under guidance of Greta Ingram last August.
This youngster did his first closed competition in September and obtained third place in the u/20 age division.
His second tournament was in Johannesburg on December 4 and his natural talent ensured him the 25th position in the u/20 age group where there were more than 45 competitors.
In the first week of February, Sakhile participated in another match in Johannesburg and ranked 18th in the u/20 age group.
Across South Africa he is now ranked 28th out of 62 after only three competitions.
What started off as an excuse to get out of the study hall in hostel became Sakhile’s passion, and he soon realised he had a natural talent for the sport.
His next competition is in March in the Free State.
His dream is to eventually join the Tuks Fencing Club and to compete against the biggest names in the sport.
Sakhile’s role model is Sello Maduma, who was the first black man to represent South Africa at the Olympics in 2008.
There is talk of Sello visiting the Lowveld in July to promote this exciting sport.
