Sakhile Ngobe, a grade 12 pupil at Lowveld High School, will represent Mpumalanga for the last time during the Port Elizabeth Open Fencing Championships in December.

In 2015 Sakhile started fencing in the Nelspruit Sport Arena at the Mpumalanga Fencing Club under guidance of Greta Ingram.

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In September that year the youngster entered his first closed competition and came third in the u/20 age division.

He has fenced in a number of competitions for Mpumalanga since then and has gained a lot of experience as a result of it.

Last year he was ranked 28th in South Africa and has been ranked 24th nationally in the u/20 senior épée category.

“He is a wonderful fencer and a role model for the younger fencers in the club.

It’s always a challenge to fence him but this does not stop the youngsters from challenging him to a bout,” says Ingram.

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“We will be sad to see Sakhile leave Mpumalanga, but he’s finishing up writing his matric exams and will then move to Pretoria to begin his studies. We wish him all the best with his future.”

Mpumalanga Fencing will host their annual competition in November. Not only will Sakhile fence in the u/20 senior épée division, but will also assist with refereeing duties.

Sakhile hopes to climb the rankings in this last competition of the year.