Dakar: Day seven "My Dakar" quotes

MY DAKAR
Everyday feelings of those who are not specially famous but who dare the challenge and give a dream for those who stay behind...

DESSOUDE

"Syndiely Wade (Nissan) N°277 - " I am Senegalese. What pushed me to do the Dakar is seeing it arrive in Senegal. I often went on the finish at the Lac Rose. I always thought of being part of it without ever imagining it would happen. Last year for the arrival, I met Andre Dessoude. And that's how it all started... I said to myself: 'I have to do it!" I also felt that there weren't enough Africans on the race, mainly due to financial reasons because it isn't easy to take part.Thierry De Lavergne took care of everything for me. He helped me a lot beause he wanted to launch a Senegalese team. My decision was taken when we had confirmation we would have the car. The car was sent to Dakar. We trained on tracks. Then we organised a bivouac during two days in the north of Senegal where are dunes. I discovered everything. I had never driven before. That's why I had that accident in Castellon. I tumbled over, the car went up and fell back on all four wheels without chocking. All I had to do was put the first gear and finish the special. I wasn't scared, I was only worried for the car. So we finished the stage, we even overtook two other cars that were stuck on the side and we finished the stage together.

"I told Senegalese journalists that it was strange because as an African I was about to discover Africa. Our goal is to finish. We are completely amateur so it's impossible to compare us with the Senagal football team that did wonders in Korea and Japan. I believe a lot of people back home must wonder how I'm doing especially after the Castellon crash."

-aso-