The New Times Newspapers reports that NBA Africa, in collaboration with Opportunity International, unveiled a new outdoor basketball court in Nyamata, Bugesera District on Monday, May 19.
Located at Highland School, the facility is among 1,000 basketball courts that NBA Africa targets to build in Africa. It is expected to provide young boys and girls with the opportunity to play in quality facilities.
Speaking at the court unveiling ceremony, NBA Africa CEO Clare Akamanzi said that the initiative originated after the Deputy Commissioner of the NBA, Mark Tatum, together with the CEO of the French Agency for Development (AFD), Rémy Rioux, announced plans to build a thousand courts over the next 10 years in partnership with like-minded organizations.
“I’m very pleased that today, on this occasion, we are together delivering on that commitment by unveiling this beautiful new court, which will serve the thousands of boys and girls in this community,” said Akamanzi.
After Nyamata, the second court will be unveiled in Nairobi, Kenya, on May 27.
Fully equipped with brand new basketball hoops and changing room facilities, the new courts will provide safe spaces for boys and girls from the local communities to learn and play the game and support NBA Africa’s commitment to build 1,000 courts in Africa over the next decade.
State Minister of Sports, Rwego Ngarambe, specified that this new court would benefit 11 schools in the vicinity of Highland School. He also addressed the young girls and boys, urging them to seize the opportunity this facility provides.
“Take this court as an opportunity to brighten your future and become great leaders of this country. We are all here to tell you that you are very important people to the country, so don’t take this for granted,” he encouraged.
Highland School’s principal expressed his gratitude to NBA Africa and especially the Ministry of Sports for their initiative in building such a court at his school.
“It’s unbelievable that in the last 35 days you made this possible. This shows us that the remaining work is for us to promote and ensure that this facility will benefit and groom more talents,” said Edward Munyaburanga.
The court unveiling is part of activities planned on the sidelines of the Basketball Africa League (BAL) 2025 Nile Conference which kicked off in Kigali from May 17. The tournament ran through to May 25.
Amadou Gallo Fall, the president of BAL, emphasized that such courts are special basketball hubs where future basketball talents can be nurtured.
“When we take a break from the competition and come to do things like this, to be with young men and young women, it’s a great pleasure. Also, providing these safe spaces will help them to learn and play but also become better citizens,” he stated.
