Giants of
Africa, the organisation founded by Toronto Raptors President, Masai
Ujiri, will begin their annual camp today. The venue this time is the
Teslim Balogun Stadium in Surulere, Lagos.
GOA officials confirmed that the kids for
the training are already in Lagos for today’s tip off. The event is
being held in six countries this year. Dedicated to supporting the
growth of basketball in Africa, Giants of Africa is hosting skills camps
in Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, Nigeria, Ivory Coast and Senegal. The youth
focused camps kicked off in Rwanda from August 7 to 9, Uganda from
August 10 to 12, Kenya from August 13 to 15, and then Nigeria holding
from August 19 to 21. It will hold in Ivory Coast from August 23 to 25
and conclude in Senegal with boys’ and girls’ camps from August 26 to
28.
“Sport can change the world” said Ujiri, a
former Nigeria international. “Africa must rise and the way we get
there is together. One of Giants of Africa’s fundamental mottos is –
Dream Big. We believe that basketball can be used as a tool to educate
and develop youth around the world to accomplish their dreams. In
addition to training coaches in each country and building
infrastructure, we strive to serve as role models for these kids to
learn from and be motivated by hard work. We feel a deep sense of
responsibility to help them develop as athletes and be good citizens
within their community.”
Giants of Africa summer camps band
together elite and emerging coaches from across Africa and
internationally. The skills sessions are tailored to develop aspiring
basketball athletes both on and off the court. Sessions over the course
of three days will focus on helping players develop athleticism, enhance
life skills, set goals and inspire them to accomplish their dreams.
In each country, Giants of Africa is
participating in outreach projects in each local community. In Rwanda
the team opened a new court at Rafiki Club. Kenya community outreach
included a project impacting the neighbourhood of Kayole. The Giants of
Africa team will be visiting Little Saints Orphanage in Nigeria, Cite
d’Ivoire Orphelinat De Bingerville in Ivory Coast and will support the
SEED project in Senegal.
A native of Nigeria, Ujiri’s love of
basketball paved his way to becoming the first African-born General
Manager for a major North American sports team and he never forgot his
roots, or the opportunities presented to him. Inspired by the NBA’s
‘Basketball Without Borders’ programme, Giants of Africa exists to
create those same opportunities for not only African youth, but also for
coaches and mentors who go back to their own homeland to influence
future generations. Since the Giants of Africa camps began more than 100
camp attendees have moved on to high school or university in the United
States, with around 20 now playing professionally in Europe.
Giants of Africa 2017 camps have been
made possible with the support of partners including the NBA, Nike,
Nestlé Milo, Ecobank, MLSE Foundation and Sportscorp Travel.
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