POLOKWANE – The Limpopo Fencing Association (LFA) recently fielded a team of 13 fencers at the Cape National Open in Cape Town, competing across the u/17, u/20 and senior categories.

Despite the long and demanding journey, the athletes delivered confident performances and demonstrated their growing strength on the national stage.

Renuka Ramroop, chairperson of the Limpopo Fencing Association and the passionate leader behind the E Tla Natšo (ETN) development project, told Polokwane Observer that the competition was especially important for junior fencers (u/17 and u/20) athletes, as it served as the final selection event for the Junior African Championships to be held in Senegal in February.

She added that the pressure was intense, with many hopefuls battling for crucial ranking points to secure a place in the national team, but the Limpopo fencers held their own, earning points against some of the top-ranked competitors in the country.

Development fencers shine on national stage

One of the standout performances came from Karabo Mathobela, a fencer from Hwiti Secondary School, a club in the ETN development project.

“He impressed the fencing community with his composure, determination and technical skill. He fought his way through with some fierce fencing to reach the finals and secured the silver medal. His achievement is particularly significant as it marks the first silver medal for the ETN development project, making it a moment of great pride for both the programme and the province,” said team manager and safeguarding officer, Tsholofelo Ramaboea.

Mathobela went on to deliver another impressive run in the senior men’s épée category where he met the country’s top épée fencers. Ramaboea explained that this is where Mathoblea also impressed the fencing community with his performance on the piste.

After winning some tough matches to reach the quarter-finals, Mathobela succumbed to the gold medallist and ended his competition on a high note.

“Karabo’s performance was simply amazing and he makes us so proud.”

Equally noteworthy was the performance of Gloria Bopape from the Ditlalemeso Fencing Club of the ETN project, who is currently Limpopo’s top ranked u/20 and senior women’s épée fencer.

During this round, Bopape delivered an exceptional performance in the u/20 category, reaching the semifinals where she also fell to the eventual gold medallist. This performance secured a bronze medal for her and her first national medal. She also participated in the senior women’s épée category where she showed her talent in this competitive field of fencers.

Her run ended with an exciting match with LFA’s experienced fencer Safiya Khan Patel from the Sello Maduma Fencing Academy (SMFA). With the win over Bopape, Khan Patel secured her place in the quarter-finals of the very tough field of the senior women’s épée.

Two medals signal project’s growing success

The two medals earned at the Cape Open by Bopape and Mathobela bring the ETN project’s total to four national medals in the last two years, signalling the continued growth and impact of the initiative.

Ramroop expressed her pride in the team: “I am very proud of all the fencers who gave their very best on the day. With every competition, all our fencers are growing, not only in skill, but in confidence, resilience and belief in their potential. After four years of hard work and five coaches later in the ETN development project, the fencers of the project are delivering some exceptional performances and earning medals on the national stage.”

She added that these results show the immense talent that lies in Limpopo and what can be achieved when opportunities are opened for the youth. “The LFA celebrates these achievements as another step forward in building a strong, competitive, and inclusive fencing community in Limpopo.”