In an exclusive interview with PDBY, TuksFencing’s newly elected Chairperson Suzette van Eijk, Executive Committee (EC) member and graduating fencer Paige Jansen, and International Fencing Federation (FIE) three‑time second‑best referee in the world Andrei Kovrijnykh shared their reflections on the club’s rapid rise, their personal motivations, and their ambitious plans for the coming year. Under Van Eijks leadership, TuksFencing has emerged as one of South Africa’s biggest fencing clubs, flourishing into a vibrant hub of creativity and collaboration. “I think I’ve got a lot of dreams and plans and things that we want to introduce to the club,” she explained, acknowledging that “it’s frustrating that everything takes a lot of time to put into place, but I think, slowly, we are going forward”. She sees the club’s transformation as a springboard for deeper development and wider impact. “The club has grown tremendously over the last two years and we are now officially the biggest fencing club in South Africa.”
Van Eijk pays tribute to her predecessor’s commitment and leadership, noting how they “laid a solid foundation by managing many responsibilities with dedication”. That groundwork has positioned TuksFencing for this moment of growth, and she is now determined to build on it by cultivating an even more inclusive culture. “Something I believe in very firmly is teamwork,” she said, stressing that “all members of the club are part of the organisation and everybody should partake in some way”. This inclusive ethos resonates strongly with Paige Jansen, who recalls the early days when there were “not that many people” and now watches “a bajillion new people” laughing through their struggles and supporting one another. Having switched from boxing to fencing, Jansen appreciates the sport’s combination of safety and strategic intensity: “It’s difficult as a girl being one of the few people [at boxing]. I don’t want to get beaten up in my face by some giant man, so fencing feels a lot safer for my face, my money maker.” Beyond the physical challenge, she values the social bonds and competitive drive that fencing fosters. “The people are very friendly… It really gives you drive. If you can start fencing, do it,” she said, urging anyone to consider starting the sport.
On the officiating side, Andrei Kovrijnykh brings unparalleled expertise and a spirit of openness. Kovrijnykh revived TuksFencing in 2003 and he has guided it to remain “the strongest club in South Africa for the past many, many years”. He prides himself on making the club “the friendliest club in the country because we allow any fencer to take part in our training sessions”, in contrast to other clubs that turn newcomers away. His résumé extends far beyond the campus: he has refereed at the last two Olympic Games, overseeing three out of four finals in Paris in addition to about 40 or 50 World Cups and Grand Prix events and over a dozen championships. When asked about his ranking, he laughed, “Regarding how many I’m second‑best referee…three for sure. But if you’re chosen one, two and three, you’re called the best referee in the world.”
Looking ahead, Van Eijk is already laying the groundwork for several major initiatives. She hopes to launch annual, and eventually biannual, boot camps, welcoming national and international fencers and coaches to intensive training sessions at TuksFencing. She wants
the club to produce the most referees in the country and is developing a referee‑training pipeline under Kovrijnykh’s guidance. Finally, she plans to establish the TuksFencing Student Academy, a programme designed to introduce hundreds of UP students to fencing, coach them from the ground up, and elevate them to competitive standards.
Together, Suzette van Eijk and Andrei Kovrijnykh blend strategic vision, grassroots passion, and world‑class expertise. Their shared commitment to growth and inclusion, coupled with rigorous standards of fair play and officiating, promises to propel TuksFencing into its next era of excellence. As they roll out boot camps, expand the referee corps, and welcome new generations of fencers, the club’s members and supporters can look forward to a season defined by unity, ambition, and the enduring thrill of the sport.
