Lasse Burell - La Lutte. Senegal

During the day, the Senegalese beaches are pretty desolate. Maybe the occasional tourist, some fisherman or children playing. But in the late afternoon, it slowly changes. Young guys have quit their day jobs and head to the beach. They are there to train »Lutte«, the local wrestling sport.
Lutte Sénégalaise or »Laamb« as it is called in Wolof, the local language, is by far the most popular sport in Senegal, even bigger than football. The national games take place at stadiums with large audiences, and the athletes on that level can earn really big sums. Out in the country young guys are training hard every morning and evening, hoping to make sucess in the sport.
Swedish photographer Lasse Burell (b. 1961) spent time with a local wrestling club in Mbour, a small fishing village a few hours south of Dakar. The images are taken during training, wrestling, and competition. Inspired by the movements and brutal power of the sport, this is a story of hard training, play, and about young boys hopes.