NBA coaching clinic inspires youth in Soweto

In a vibrant celebration of Youth Day and in partnership with the 47th anniversary of the Soweto Uprising, the NBA Johannesburg Juniors League organised a basketball clinic at the Klipspruit Sports Centre in Soweto last Friday, welcoming 500 boys and girls aged 14 and under.

Under the guidance of coaches from NBA Africa and the NBA Johannesburg League, the young participants could learn basketball fundamentals and engage in skills stations designed to enhance their passing, shooting, dribbling, ball handling, and defensive abilities, as reported by SowetanLIVE.

The 2023 Joburg NBA Junior League, which commenced in May, features nearly 60 school and community teams from Johannesburg and Soweto. The league will culminate in playoffs and finals scheduled for August, showcasing the talent and passion of these young athletes.

Also read: Gauteng Hosts Youth Day Jobs Fair – Connecting Opportunities

This initiative builds upon NBA Africa’s commitment to grassroots and elite development programs in South Africa, which have included the prestigious Basketball Without Borders Africa Camp held 14 times, the long-standing Royal Bafokeng Junior NBA Programme in North West, and last year’s successful tournaments in Cape Town and Durban.

In other news, the Basketball Africa League (BAL) and the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) announced a multi-year extension of their collaboration. This partnership ensures that the BAL will continue to hold games, including the playoffs and finals in 2024, 2026, and 2028, at the BK Arena in Kigali, Rwanda.

As part of this extension, Rwanda’s marketing and tourism initiative, “Visit Rwanda,” will remain a foundational and host partner of the BAL. The Rwanda Development Board has played a pivotal role in the launch and success of the Basketball Africa League over the past three seasons, demonstrating their commitment to youth development, social impact, and the growth of basketball in the region.

BAL President Amadou Gallo Fall expressed his excitement about renewing the collaboration with the Rwanda Development Board, ensuring that BAL games, youth development, and social impact programs will continue to thrive in Rwanda for years.

Also read:

Call to prioritise road safety among South African youth to curb road carnage

Picture: Unsplash / Kylie Osullivan

Follow us on Google News.