Basketball in Africa

Basketball without Borders (BWB) will visit Senegal for the first time ever when a four-day camp takes place in the country’s capital city of Dakar from 5th-8th August, the National Basketball Assocation (NBA), International Basketball Federation (FIBA) and Senegalese Basketball Federation (FSBB) announced on Wednesday.

Former NBA star player turned global ambassador Dikembe Mutombo of the Democratic Republic of Congo headlines the contingent of FIBA/NBA players and coaches who will serve as camp counselors for the eighth edition of Basketball without Borders Africa.

The camp which combines high-level instruction and extensive community outreach efforts ranks as one of the most important events on Africa’s basketball calendar.

“Basketball without Borders is a unique programme that combines high-level coaching with important community work,” said FIBA Africa’s Alphonse Bile.

“As the sport continues to grow across the continent, we are proud to partner with our friends at the NBA and the FSBB to support this important event.”

Since the inaugural BWB Africa camp was held in Johannesburg in 2003, more than 700 of the continent’s best players have been coached and mentored through the programme.

This summer, the top 65 young players (aged 19 and under) from over 20 nations across Africa will come together to compete but also to form new friendships. To that end, the campers will be divided into teams irrespective of their nationalities.

“We are extremely proud to be working alongside the NBA and FIBA on this wonderful initiative here in Dakar,” said El Hadj Amadou Gaye, President of the Senegalese Basketball Federation.

“We look forward to welcoming the NBA stars and coaches for four days of intense competition and off-the-court activities that will serve to further raise the profile of the sport in Senegal and across Africa.”

Previous BWB Africa FIBA/NBA participants include NBA All-Stars Chris Bosh and Dwight Howard of the USA and Germany’s Dirk Nowitzki as well as natives of the continent such as DeSagana Diop (Senegal), Luol Deng (Sudan) and Didier Ilunga Mbenga (Congo).

Senegal’s very own Mouhammed Sene became the first BWB Africa participant to make the transition to the NBA when he was drafted by the Seattle Supersonics in 2006.

Cameroonian Luc Mbah a Moute of the Milwaukee Bucks, who himself was a camp participant in 2003, returned to the program in 2009 as a coach, mentor and role model for the campers.