Luanda: The board of the Basketball Africa League (BAL) is currently in Angola exploring strategic partnerships with both state and private sectors to further the development and reach of basketball across Africa. The initiative aims to bolster the sport’s presence and infrastructure within the continent.
According to Angola Press News Agency, the delegation is led by Amadou Gallo Fall, President of BAL, and Clare Akamanzi, Executive Director of the National Basketball Association (NBA) for Africa. They arrived in Luanda on Monday. The two participated in a roundtable discussion with the national sports press on Wednesday morning to outline development projects not only for Angola but also for the broader African region.
During the meeting, Akamanzi emphasized Angola’s rich basketball history and its priority status in benefiting from NBA’s projects on the continent. She noted that Angola ranks third in Africa and 32nd globally in basketball, highlighting the strategic importance of the country in their pro
gram. This program includes discussions with the Angolan Basketball Federation, the Ministry of Youth and Sport, and the national business community.
Akamanzi also announced a dinner conference scheduled for Wednesday evening. This event would involve more than 14 institutions from various sectors of the national business community to discuss the strategy and objectives for promoting basketball in Angola.
The head of NBA Africa highlighted that Angola has already seen benefits from several projects, including the ‘NBA junior’, which partners with ExxonMobil and Africell to engage young people. Akamanzi pointed out that following Petro de Luanda’s victory in the BAL last May, the timing is ideal for collaborating with Angola to enhance the sport.
Furthermore, NBA Africa plans to construct 1,000 basketball courts across African communities, with Angola being a key beneficiary. The success of these initiatives, however, will depend on the active involvement of the government, the federation, and business lea
ders to identify and provide suitable locations in the targeted provinces.