Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games: How ‘Coach Azou’ empowers Senegalese youth through boxing
Discover how Alfred Assane N’Diaye, known as Coach Azou, established a ‘safe space’ at Dakar’s Yakaar Boxing Club for young Senegalese often left on the sidelines.
The importance of reaching out to the community
Under Coach Azou’s watchful eye, a sparring match begins.
Two young, inexperienced teens, a boy and a girl, square off, just days after the club’s event, the Yakaar Fight Gala. Their technique is still rough, but their enthusiasm is contagious.
“I’ve always had the desire to come here and do something with the youth. Why? Because every time I came here on vacation, I connected with friends, and over time, those ties grew stronger. I then thought, ‘Why not start an organisation and offer something to young people?’”
Coach Azou took his project directly into the community, sharing his mission and establishing a strong local presence.
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