Sport has already proven to be one of the most important tools for social transformation available and has proved to be very efficient in several communities in Brazil and around the world, revealing and empowering several athletes to play in professional leagues, but most importantly, it seeks to equalize opportunities for those who lack other opportunities. An example of this is the Kicks For Good project conceived by STREETOPIA, which collected several pairs of sneakers for the Anjos do Esporte project in one of its deliveries, allowing children and young athletes to play basketball with quality with more joyfully in the community of Paraisópolis.
Africa has been badly damaged by the colonialist historical exploitation that still generates extremely delicate economic and social problems on the continent. However, several non-governmental organizations and social projects have been doing crucial work aimed at solving problems and offering human and professional development to diverse young people across African countries.
The Seed Project functions in Senegal as a way to use education and basketball to develop the next generation of African leaders. According to UNESCO, half of the country's population is under 18, with only 32% of students attending high school and merely 7% attending university. Through the Seed Rise, Seed Academy, Women's Empowerment, Seed Gives and Seed Scholars programs, the project seeks to increase school retention, high school completion rates, reduce gender inequality, promote civic participation among young people and offer high quality athletic programming.
The outcome: 92% attendance of participants enrolled at the university or got a job as soon as they left the program, $ 7 million granted in scholarships, 58 athletes sent to play college basketball in the United States, 31 professional players and 6 players in the NBA or NBDL, among them, Gorgui Dieng, current center of the Memphis Grizzlies
Founded in 2003 by the current president of the Toronto Raptors, Masai Ujiri, Giants of Africa was born to provide opportunities for basketball players on the continent through training camps, providing all the mechanisms necessary to make the sport grow and pass on values to new generations.
“Dream big in Africa. As children, as young people, you must think big. OK? No matter where you are from, no matter what you do, look at all of our stories, look at everyone here - we can be great, we can be excellent. ”- Masai Ujiri in the documentary“ Giants of Africa ”
The program has already helped Joel Embiid and Pascal Siakam to become NBA players who, together with the founder, serve as inspiration not only for Africa, but for the whole world. In addition, the continent has already trained more than 40 players for the league between legends such as MVP Hakeem Olajuwon, Dikembe Mutombo, Serge Ibaka and Manute Bol, not to mention the players who are children of African parents who immigrated to European countries such as Giannis Antetokoumnpo and many others who have ancestors descended from Africa.
It is within this context that the NBA seeks to approach the region every day by supporting social projects, developing workshops, like the Africa Game since 2015 and, now, with the launch of the Basketball Africa League (BAL) in partnership with The Internternational Basketball Federation (FIBA).
The new league will be fully operated by the NBA and will have all the financial support and expertise necessary to develop a logistical and technological structure that works in the long term. Pepsi and Jordan Brand already support the new tournament and several NBA business partners have already shown a strong interest in being part of this new project that promises to revolutionize basketball in Africa.
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the inaugural match was postponed. The tournament will have 12 teams, divided into 2 conferences, playing 5 games among themselves, with the best 3 of each qualifying for the “Super 6” that will also play among themselves, determining the best 4 to dispute the qualifiers that will reveal the BAL champion. Participating teams include:
- Groupement Sportif des Pétroliers, Argélia;
- Club Atlético Petroleos de Luanda, Angola;
- Forces Armées e Police Basketball, Camarões;
- Zamalek, Egito;
- Gendarmerie Nationale Basketball Club, Madagascar;
- Association Sportive de la Police Nationale, Mali;
- Association Sportive de Salé, Morrocos;
- Ferroviário de Maputo, Moçambique;
- Rivers Hoopers Basketball Club, Nigéria;
- Patriots Basketball Club, Ruanda;
- Association Sportive des Douanes, Senegal;
- Union Sportive Monastirienne, Tunísia.
BAL is a very important initiative for the basketball ecosystem as a whole, because it will generate more talent, popularity and entertainment for the sport worldwide. In addition to developing a region that lacks opportunities, generation of jobs, infrastructure and commercial revenue, the League is committed to being an economic engine to create new opportunities in sport, media and technology across Africa.
As Masai Ujiri himself said in his talk to TEDxToronto on how sports can boost Africa's economy: “I always wonder if we could build 100 courts in each African country, what would be the result of that? What if we could give 1 million balls for each sport that uses them? ... we are seeking people who will create the next generation ... ”
