JANUARY 2021
SPOTLIGHT
AFRICA NEEDS TO BUILD A BASKETBALL CULTURE WITH THE HELP OF THE NBA
BY KINGSLEY KOBO ABIDJAN , COTE D ' IVOIRE
BASKETBALL NEEDS TO GROW FROM AN ALTERNATIVE SPORT TO A MAIN SPORT IN AFRICA , AS ALL STAKEHOLDERS STAND TO WIN WHEN THIS BECOMES A REALITY .
SOCCER REMAINS THE MOST IMPORTANT SPORT ON THE CONTINENT AND THE DREAM DISCIPLINE OF MOST BUDDING ATHLETES WHO ESSENTIALLY EYE A PROFESSIONAL CAREER IN EUROPE . THERE IS AN AVALANCHE OF HEROES , PAST AND PRESENT , TO DRAW INSPIRATION FROM .
THE OVERWHELMING MEDIA COVERAGE OF SOCCER ACROSS AFRICA LEAVES LITTLE OR NO SPACE FOR OTHER SPORTS TO GRAB PUBLIC ATTENTION .
BUT NOT EVERYBODY CAN PLAY SOCCER OR MEANT TO PLAY THAT GAME . THE LACK OF APPROPRIATE SPORTS INFRASTRUCTURE IN MANY AFRICAN COUNTRIES LEAVES ROOM FOR THE ADOPTION OF SOCCER , WHICH IS ONE OF THE EASIEST TO PRACTICE AT GRASSROOTS LEVEL .
KIDS COULD KICK A NON-CONVENTIONAL SOCCER BALL ANYWHERE , FROM A GRASSED BACKYARD TO A DUSTY STREET . NO INVESTMENT IS NEEDED UNLIKE A SPORT LIKE BASKETBALL THAT REQUIRES A REAL BALL THAT CAN BOUNCE AND A HARD SURFACE TO BOUNCE ON , AS WELL AS A BACKBOARD . INVESTMENT IS
NEEDED .
STATE AND MUNICIPAL AUTHORITIES IN AFRICA HAVE NOT DONE ENOUGH IN PROMOTING BASKETBALL IN SCHOOLS AND
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