SPOTLIGHT
IN 2017 , THE NBA , IN PARTNERSHIP WITH SEED PROJECT ( SPORTS FOR EDUCATION AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ), A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION , LAUNCHED THE NBA ACADEMY AFRICA IN THIES , SENEGAL . IT IS A BASKETBALL TRAINING CENTER WHICH GROOMS MALE AND FEMALE PROSPECTS FROM ACROSS AFRICA .
ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL YOUTH DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE RUN BY THE NBA IN AFRICA IS THE JR . NBA PROJECT , WHICH IS RESERVED FOR U-16 BOYS AND GIRLS . IT HAS BEEN HELD IN ELEVEN AFRICAN COUNTRIES .
BASKETBALL WITHOUT BORDERS ( BWB ) IS A GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROGRAM ORGANIZED BY NBA AND FIBA . AFRICA HAS BEEN HONORED WITH 14 EDITIONS SO FAR , WHICH YIELDED NINE PLAYERS DRAFTED INTO THE NBA .
THE NBA HAS OFFICES IN AFRICA , NOTABLY IN SOUTH AFRICA , AND WILL MOST LIKELY EXPAND TO OTHER SUB REGIONS OF THE CONTINENT . IT IS AN INDICATION OF A STRONG AND SERIOUS AGENDA FOR THE FUTURE OF THE SPORT IN AFRICA .
BUT , NBA CANNOT DO ALL WHAT IS NEEDED TO TAKE BASKETBALL TO THE NEXT LEVEL ON THE CONTINENT .
AFRICAN AUTHORITIES MUST SHOW SOME APPRECIATION BY GIVING THE SPORT THE REQUIRED SPACE AND PRIORITY , NOT AT THE EXPENSE OF SOCCER , BUT WELL ENOUGH TO MATCH THE EFFORTS BEING DEPLOYED BY THE AMERICAN BODY FOR THE SAKE THE GAME HERE .
THE TEAMS PLAYED EACH OTHER IN GROUPS FOR SIX REMAINING SPOTS IN THE BAL REGULAR SEASON WHILE TEAMS FROM HOST NATIONS QUALIFY AUTOMATICALLY TO MAKE A TOTAL OF TWELVE TEAMS .
AFRICAN GOVERNMENTS NEED TO INCLUDE BASKETBALL AMONG THE COMPULSORY SPORT DISCIPLINES IN SCHOOLS AND EARMARK A SIZEABLE ANNUAL BUDGET FOR ITS DEVELOPMENT . BASIC INFRASTRUCTURE SHOULD BE BUILT AT COMMUNITY PLAYGROUNDS , TO ALLOW KIDS PRACTICE THE SPORT FROM YOUNG AGE .
THE NEXT ASPECT IS MEDIA COVERAGE . WHILE THE UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE , THE PREMIER LEAGUE AND OTHER TOP EUROPEAN SOCCER LEAGUES ARE BEING SHOWN ON TV , THERE IS ALMOST A TOTAL BLACKOUT ON THE NBA AND EVEN LOCAL BASKETBALL GAMES .
THAT MUST HAVE TO CHANGE IF BASKETBALL MUST GROW IN AFRICA . THE NBA NEEDS TO COME TO THE SITTING ROOMS FOR FAMILIES TO ENJOY AND FALL IN LOVE WITH . THE CULTURE OF THE SPORT NEEDS TO BE CULTIVATED AND THE MEDIA CAN HELP .
THE NBA WILL ALWAYS BE AFRICA ’ S FRIEND BUT AFRICANS HAVE MORE TO LOSE IF THEY IGNORE THE MANY OPPORTUNITIES COMING THEIR WAY THROUGH THE FAMOUS BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION .
PASCAL SIAKAM O F C A M E R O O N
C O N T ' D O N P 2 9 .
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