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Rising talent fuelling continental basketball

Rising talent fuelling continental basketball

SEVEN African basketball prospects are among the 40 high-school-age prospects who will participate in the eighth annual Basketball Without Borders (BWB) Global Camp. Their participation and inclusion at the BWB Global Camp underscores the abundance of basketball talent on the continent, ready and eager to continue Africa’s legacy as a sports talent hub. A press statement by the National Basketball Association (NBA) and the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) on February 9 announced the names of the 40 youngsters who will be part of the camp that will be held between February 16 and 18 at the Mojo Up Sports Complex…
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South Africa to host ‘Kalahari Conference’ of the BAL – African basketball round-up

South Africa to host ‘Kalahari Conference’ of the BAL – African basketball round-up

FOR the first time in its history, Central African basketball team Bangui Sporting Club has qualified for the Basketball Africa League after playing a series of back-to-back narrowly won games at the West Division Elite 16 BAL qualifiers in Cameroon from October 31 to November 5. Led by trailblazing Australian coach Liz Mills and defensive specialist Jeff Sparrow, Bangui took down FUS Rabat in the last two seconds of the final game, 93-90. Less than 24 hours before they squeezed past Al Ahly Benghazi 87-85, also in the final seconds of that game, the two wins came off the back…
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Get ready to ball: Basketball Africa League’s 3rd season is here

Get ready to ball: Basketball Africa League’s 3rd season is here

AFRICAN basketball fans are set to witness a fierce battle for the Basketball Africa League, or BAL, title after the unveiling of fixtures and game schedules for its 3rd season. The BAL, a partnership between the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) and the NBA and featuring club teams from across Africa, has become a standout on the continent's basketball scene in just two seasons - and a hit with the sport's fans. “We are confident that fans and viewers will be treated to top-tier basketball that reflects the calibre of the talent we have on the continent,” noted Anibal Manave FIBA…
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Africa Champions Cup MVP, Hagar Amer, shares her journey to basketball success

Africa Champions Cup MVP, Hagar Amer, shares her journey to basketball success

SILALEI SHANI, BIRD STORY AGENCY AS the sound of the final buzzer fills the Eduardo Mondlane University Gym in Maputo, the bench players and the coaches of Alexandria Sporting Club flood the floor to celebrate their unprecedented victory. In a corner, the team's captain, Hagar Amer, takes a moment to herself. Overcome with emotion, Amer weeps freely at what she and her team have achieved - for the first time in her country's basketball history, an Egyptian club has just won the FIBA Africa Champions Cup for Women. Amer is also named the tournament's most valuable player (MVP) averaging 15…
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From Mali to Florida – the amazing story of an African basketball star

From Mali to Florida – the amazing story of an African basketball star

SILALEI SHANI, BIRD STORY AGENCY WHEN Malian national and Arizona men’s basketball centre, Oumar Ballo, was named the Most Valuable Player of the 2022 Maui Invitational in late November, the powerful, 7-feet-tall player made it clear he was Africa's next big name in basketball. After averaging 21 points and 10.7 rebounds and a career-high 30 points and 13 rebounds in the title game vs. Creighton, Ballo garnering plenty of attention. The junior from Mali is no new face to African basketball’s highlight reels, however,. Ballo played for Mali at the 2017 FIBA Under-16 African Championship in Mauritius, averaging 14 points…
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Why this African basketball league is “bigger than basketball”

Why this African basketball league is “bigger than basketball”

STAFF REPORTER, BIRD STORY AGENCY AMADOU Gallo Fall is in the car and the connection is lousy. He's on his way to pick up his young daughter and has made time in his hectic schedule to take a call while he drives. We switch to a direct call and the connection improves. The Basketball Africa League president is now based at the league's headquarters in Senegal, but Fall, 56, previously lived in Johannesburg as NBA Vice President and Managing Director for Africa. So he's comfortable driving and talking in the Johannesburg traffic. In fact, this is a man who is…
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How Obama’s backing for NBA Africa venture could boost basketball on the continent

How Obama’s backing for NBA Africa venture could boost basketball on the continent

FORMER US President Barack Obama’s decision to invest in the National Basketball Association’s Africa venture reflects a lot about his past – his basketball playing youth and his African roots. It also signals that his future ambitions stretch beyond US borders. JOHN NAURIGHT, Dean, Richard J. Bolte, Sr. School of Business, Mount St. Mary's University, Mount Saint Mary College SARAH ZIPP, Lecturer, Faculty of Health Science and Sport, University of Stirling The Basketball Africa League was launched in 2021 as a collaboration between the National Basketball Association (NBA) and the International Basketball Federation (FIBA). The inaugural competition consisted of 12…
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Ujiri and Raptors agree on new deal

Ujiri and Raptors agree on new deal

Ujiri and Raptors agree on new deal BOITUMELO RANTAO  MASAI Ujiri arrived in Toronto in 2013 and, after growing his reputation as one of the most sought after executives in professional basketball, has been named vice-chairman and president of the Toronto Raptors. The Toronto Raptors, the only National Basketball Association (NBA) team based in Canada, had the pleasure of winning the 2019 Championship with Ujiri at the helm. Ujiri is also a polarizing figure in basketball for his many acts of global philanthropy through his Giants of Africa organization. More recently, Ujiri has attended the inaugural Basketball Africa League (BAL)…
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Vanessa Bryant blasts Nike for leaked Mambas

Vanessa Bryant blasts Nike for leaked Mambas

AFRICAN MIRROR REPORTER NIKE has landed themselves in hot water with Vanessa Bryant. Bryant called out Nike on an Instagram post for leaking images of a pair of basketball shoes she worked on with the athletic wear giant, in honour of her and Kobe’s daughter Gianna, to the public without her consent.  In her post, she also added the leaked image of the shoe which was sent to her by an anonymous person in the same post as the message.   The leaked shoes were to be called the “Mambacita” sneaker, which was Gianna’s nickname, as she trained with her father…
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Mismanagement crippled SA basketball

Mismanagement crippled SA basketball

LEE NXUMALO BASKETBALL, once the fastest-growing sport in South Africa, now hardly has recognisable leagues or talents. A group of campaigners have come together to get it thriving and growing again. He increased popularity of the National Basketball Association (NBA) on the global front and the presence of African-born players in the league has given basketball cultural currency among the continent’s youth. Even though basketball had a presence in South Africa since apartheid, its popularity reached its peak only in the late 1990s. At one point, it was considered the fastest-growing sport in the country and on track to becoming…
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