Basketball in Africa

Mrs. Salamatou Maiga is FIBA Africa’s Central Board members and also Secretary General of Malian Basketball Federation. She is talking about the XVth FIBA Africa’s Congress to be held in July in Bamako, Mali.

As the secretary general of Mali basketball federation and member of FIBA Africa central board, what do you think about the organization of FIBA Africa congress at Bamako?

The hosting of FIBA Africa congress at Bamako is an honour and a challenge to me. We hosted FIBA Africa Champions Cup for women and Afrobasket U16 for women with success. We can’t fail because Mali is a land of welcome “La djiguiya”. We keep a date at Bamako from the 14TH to the 20TH of july 2010.

Under which auspices do you place that congress?

I place this congress under the sign of no stress. We are going to check the statute and as any change is difficult we have to stay put, we have to do what is good for the game of basketball “ WE ARE BASKETBALL” I know that everything is fine and our basketball is growing up and we are too…

Can you take a look back your running since 2006?

From 2006 to nowadays I can tell you that FIBA Africa is grown now without any doubt. Our competitions are taking place without any forfeit. Africa is getting a lot of respect now and I have had a chance to be a member of FIBA world since 1998 and we’re getting a lot of consideration now because of the great work done by the secretary general. Our financial situation is better than before and the management of the funds is transparent.

Can you tell us about women basketball?

Women basketball is doing well it has acceptable level. Problems that we’re having are not just African, it’s the same worldwide. We are thinking how to make that basketball more attractive for the sponsors just like men’s. We‘re still working on it with President Conde, we did a good job in Abidjan, we have to put in concrete forms the acts and the different resolutions.

What are the dispositions taken to insure the good hosting of the congress?

We have set up a committee to take care of all that. We are talking with Hotels about rooms prices for everyone. Visas are free. I don’t want to tell you everything if you miss that congress, you’ll regret.

How are you getting ready for the organization of Afrobasket Women 2011?

Ah! Afrobasket women 2011, everything is ok, at the next visits you will be pleasantly surprise…