Our Provincial Coach: Fencing Master, Mentor and CTV SportStar
Our Provincial Coach: Fencing Master, Mentor and CTV SportStar
For nearly 20 years, Manitoba Fencing has enjoyed the privilege of Fencing Master, Ayach Bounachada, as our provincial coach.
This slash of luck for Manitoba Fencing, might not have happened, if not for a random twist of fate. Ayach started his athletic career as a competitive swimmer in Algeria. But, he quickly left the water behind after a chance meeting with a fencing coach. After his first taste of fencing combat, Ayach had found his life’s passion. According to Ayach,
“Since that day, fencing was my sport”.
Ayach trained to become a fencing master. He experienced success on the national level in Algeria. but soon realized his gift was for coaching rather than competing. Ayach moved to Winnipeg in 2003 to lead Manitoba’s provincial program. Ayach embraces the challenges of coaching fencing for children and adults. He teaches all 3 disciplines of fencing: epee, sabre and foil. Ayach says,
“You teach different characters and personalities. You have to change the way you coach to resolve the problems of your students that change every time.”Manitoba National Team Fencer, Misha Sweet hopes to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics. This Olympic opportunity would not be possible without the help of his coach, says Misha.
“He is very good at explaining and demonstrating. And for younger fencers he has a nurturing personality.”Other Manitoba fencers echo those praises and plan to follow in Ayach’s footsteps. Former National Team Fencer, Daria Jorquera Palmer, can’t imagine anyone better as a coach.
“Ayach is such an amazing mentor for me. He has so much knowledge in the sport, so much international experience. And he is world renown as a fencing coach.”Despite offers to coach in cities where the sport is more prominent, Ayach’s heart belongs to Manitoba. Ayach commits each day to making the province of Manitoba one of the world’s elite fencing destinations. Ayach Bounachada will always be will always be an outstanding coach, a Fencing Master and mentor, and all-round superstar to Manitoba Fencing. Watch the video: Ayach Bounachada, CTV SportStar Profile
