Coach Godwill Owinje from G.O.A Nigeria takes Simon Mujir a South Sudanese player from Kakuma Refugee camp to paces on Monday morning
Giants of Africa foundation in conjunction with Kenya Basketball Association and Federation International Basketball Association (FIBA) on Monday morning organized a basketball camp for young men from eastern African countries in Nairobi Kenya.
The two- day camp, initiated by Giants of Africa Basketball project, is keen on growing basketball industry in Kenya and around East Africa following increased interest in the sport and providing young players a platform to interact and build capacity.
The entry of the first ever basketball camp in Kenya is also aimed at engaging players in the intricacies of the game and encouraging the youth to sharpen their skills in the sport.
Ronnie Owino far left, Maasai Ujir, center, founder of Giants of Africa foundation and a representative of the NBA during a press briefing in Nairobi
“We have taken note of the interest and growth of basketball in Kenya and took the initiative to bring the camp to this side of East Africa,” said Masai Ujiri, General Manager of the Toronto raptors in the NBA and Founder of Giants of Africa, adding, “we are thrilled at the opportunity to offer skills and training to local coaches to equip players with different techniques of play.”
Ronnie Owino, head coach of Kenya’s women national side represented Kenya Basketball Association and lamented on the pathetic government support being engaged into the sport.
Ronnie Owino, head coach Kenya women’s basketball team at the camp
“The Kenyan government says that they can’t support local preparations when our teams are set to compete in international matches while they spend millions on Harambee stars who never get anywhere.” The former Posta General Manager complained, “In the last African women championships, we went all the way to the finals and lost narrowly to Angola without any government support from grassroots, Angola were paid five thousand dollars as allowances and an additional five thousand dollars for winning the championships, this shows how serious other governments are with the sport as compared to ours,” the tactician concluded.
Maasai Ujir also complained on the pathetic basketball conditions that African countries have in general and urged the governments to start getting involved from the grass root levels and tap the great talents available.
Kelhm, a Kenyan citizen of British origin player taking instructions from coaches at the camp
The camp conducted by a host of National Basketball Association (NBA) coaches will see 50 boys drawn from Kenya, Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan, South Africa, Ethiopia, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi participate in sessions to be held at Brookhouse school in Nairobi in addition to others recruited from Kakuma refugee camp in northern Kenya.
The initiative looks to hugely contribute to the development of local youth basketball in the country; where participants will learn to combine basketball talent, discipline and ambition to advance themselves in an increasingly competitive sport.
Among those who will conduct the boot camp include NBA Africa President Amadou Fall, Vice President, NBA Africa, Patrick Mutombo(Denver Nuggets) and Jama Mahlalela (Toronto raptors.) In addition, several other NBA Africa office members and NBA assistant coaches will show up for the camp.
Author: Shadrack Andenga Odinga