09 Jun 2022

Botswana Amateur Fencing Federation will send four players to the Senior African Championships slated for Morocco June 12 - 20.

Team Botswana, which leaves tomorrow,  entails two female fencers; Kate Lebuile and Aobakwe Modise, while Tshepo Chigu and Koketso Masena will participate in the men’s category. 

In an interview on Wednesday, the team’s coach, Sam Chape said lack of funding and sponsorship hindered the association from sending 12 players  as desired.  

He said they had hoped to use the Casablanca games as a form of exposure especially that the sport originated from that region.

Chape said taking the whole team would have exposed them to the sport’s new techniques, among other new developments.  

He further said the players would have used the games as a tester ahead of the World Championship billed for Cairo on July 15 and for the Commonwealth Fencing Games billed for London on August 15. 

The coach said Botswana would be a first timer at the African Fencing Championships, adding the annual event was organised by the African Fencing Confederation. 

He said Botswana was targeting at least two bronze medals. 

The federation’s public relations officer, Neo Kerebotswe, decried lack of sponsorship. 

She attributed this to athletes’ failure to build worthwhile profiles. 

Kerebotswe said investment into a developing sport such as fencing should be a top priority in the country. 

She asserted that the federation lacked sponsors to partner with, adding that the Botswana National Sports Commission (BNSC) funds were not enough to meet fencing’s financial needs.   

She appealed for partnership and sponsorship for their grassroot development programme because desire was to take the sport to the people. Currently they have centres in Gaborone, Francistown and Serowe only. 

Kerebotswe further said lack of support would hinder growth with fewer prospects for players to pursue professional careers.

She said the lack of talent-building opportunities led to less return on the little investment put into local talent. 

Kerebotswe said the federation had been doing its best to move to the next level by competing in various meets. 

She said those were not enough since they faced challenges such as lacking of equipment, sporting attires which forced most fencers to use their finances. 

“We need to have all fencers with the right kit, from jackets, plastron (sword) glove breeches (short trousers and socks),” she said. 

Kerebotswe called on sponsors contribution to talent development, saying it was a long term process during in which young people progressed through various stages. 

He said such required consistent training.

She indicated that fencing was similar to chess though it required both the physical prowess and mental ability. 

“Based on the sword fighting, fencing demands speed anticipation, reflexes and great mental strength,” she stated. 

She said fencing was the recreational sports of swordplay that could be enjoyed by people of all ages. 

 It offers a multitude of benefits, both physical and mental workout, in which fencers learn to hone their strategies against opponents of varying skill levels, and build up physical endurance, agility and accuracy. 

She therefore said through participation in fencing, confidence and sportsmanship were gained, traits extended throughout other aspects of life. 

Kerebotswe therefore encouraged parents to bring their children as young as five to eight year olds as fencing would help mould them into the future. 

“There are beginner- level classes for every age group category, ranging from the benjamins 5-8 years, the cadets 9-13, Junior 14-18, senior 19-39 and veterans from 40 and above. The veterans own can be for fun, fitness or even train to compete,” she highlighted. ends