Africa-Press – Botswana. NBA Africa and mobile operator Africell announced, yesterday, at Shopping Fortaleza, in Luanda, an agreement valid for three years, aimed at creating the NBA Junior League, across the country, aimed at girls aged 7 to 14. years old.
Called “Her Time to Play”, the WNBA initiative, which aims to promote the practice of the sport by the female gender, also includes seminars and technical improvement, with the support of NBA stars.
It is also the intention of the organization to distribute merchandising and sports equipment, promote marketing campaigns for the brands involved, in order to provide Angolan fans with the opportunity to win tickets to watch, live, the NBA games in the United States of America.
NBA Africa and Africell are committed to expanding the competition nationwide. But, in a first phase, Luanda will be the starting point. On the other hand, they aim to provide girls with ways to engage and learn from each other through basketball.
The program combines on-the-field training with guidance for life off the basketball court to support not only players but also leaders.
“Playing and watching sport contributes to personal growth, and leads to greater social inclusion. Basketball is extremely popular in Angola, constituting a history of national pride, producing talented players and winning teams”, said the president of Grupo Africell, Ziad Dalloul.
Asked about the creation of infrastructures in some points where they are almost non-existent, Ziade Dalloul gave guarantees that the intention of taking the initiative to the 18 provinces will be fulfilled.
By establishing the official partnership with NBA Africa in Angola, Dalloul believes he will encourage young people to practice the sport, reinforcing the role of sport as a platform for positive evolution in communities and across the country.
“Collaborating with a leading mobile operator such as Africell will support our efforts to make basketball more accessible to young people across the continent, and enable us to engage more players and fans in Angola than ever before,” said Victor Williams, CEO of NBA Africa.
That leader made it known that the organization he directs is looking forward to working with Africell to expand youth sport development and social responsibility initiatives in order to have a positive impact across the country for both boys and girls.
The partnership intends to continue previous initiatives of NBA Africa in Angola, as happened in 2016, when Luanda hosted one of the editions of Basketball Without Borders, BWB, in the Multipurpose Pavilion of Kilamba, as well as the two editions of the NBA League. Junior in 2017 and 2018, in both sexes.
The BWB is FIBA’s global basketball development and community outreach program for all African countries. Since its launch in 2003, it has involved almost 100 Angolan boys and girls.
The collaboration also builds on Africell’s support of sport-related initiatives in its other operating markets, including projects focused on football and athletics.
The presentation ceremony was attended by the American ambassador to Angola, Tulinabo Mishingi, representatives of NBA Africa and distinguished national basketball figures, including coaches, players, managers and ex-practitioners.
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