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In Dakar, for several years, rollerblading has been a trend. A mode of transport for slaloming between traffic jams, but above all a rich sporting discipline with many variations. The clubs are multiplying and the Senegalese champions are shining internationally, but the sport remains poorly supervised and there is little infrastructure to accommodate them.
From our correspondent in Dakar,
Late followingnoon in Guediwaye, in the suburbs of Dakar. A swarm of children and young men make their entrance, rollerblades on their feet, on the basketball court. While the little ones practice high jumping, the older ones quickly slalom around small fluorescent blocks.
The passion for skating spreads by word of mouth, as for Amadou Tidiane Diop, 23 years old. ” A friend had told me that a person was selling rollerblades for 300 francs each. I thought it was cheaper, and I might get started and see what it would look like. So I went there, but there were no more rollerblades. So I bought a pair for 2,500 francs. It was a poor quality pair, but I bought in right away “recalls Amadou Tidiane Diop.
And once you’ve caught the skating “virus”, it’s hard to get rid of it. Ousseynou Diene has been practicing since childhood. ” You feel the adrenaline in a way. When you practice this sport, there are feelings that you cannot express. »
A sport open to all
The Pro Style Roller association was created by two passionate twin brothers in 2005, Ousseynou and Assane Manga. This is the first in the suburbs. The contribution is 2,000 CFA francs per month, or regarding 3 euros, but they make exceptions for young people from very poor families, as Ousseynou explains. ” I tell them “I understand your situation and it doesn’t matter.”. love [du sport] is more important than money. »
The club regularly organizes events open to all to promote their sport. There would now be a good twenty groups all over the country. That day, only boys on the field, but it was a girl who particularly marked the history of Pro Style Roller. Awa Baldé, double world champion, trained with the club.
A lack of infrastructure
Senegal is the only African country to have risen to the level of world champion in skating. Athlete Dame Fall won gold in 2017 in free jumpor high jump, then once more in 2022. He now lives in France, as it is not easy to retain champions in Senegal.
« We lack the infrastructure to train regrets Ousseynou Diene. ” Some lack places to train, so they do it in the street. I also think that the state should help us because skating is a sport like any other. »
Three Franco-Senegalese athletes compete at the end of January for the qualifications for the 2024 Olympics under the Senegalese flag. Something to make the whole new generation dream.