{Ange Kagame, the second child and only daughter of President Paul Kagame, would like to see Africans enjoying and playing basketball as they do for Football.}
In her first piece published in Huffington Post, Ange Kagame calls for a joint effort to promote Basketball game around the Continent citing its contribution to the good image of Africa as well as to the wellbeing of Africans.
She said “As a vast and geographically varied continent, Africa and its cultural practices have long provoked interest throughout the world.”
Ange Kagame explained that “Africa is celebrated for its imagery of lush jungles, diverse tribes with unique customs, exotic wildlife, and archeological wonders such as the pyramids of Egypt, Timbuktu, and the Walls of Great Zimbabwe. Turbulence is also part of the mythology, with wars for independence through secessionist and separatist conflicts, famine and health crises.”
She said that as individuals around the world have become increasingly familiar with the rich traditions of Africa, sports culture has also risen to play a pivotal part in the fascination of the continent.
“There is a saying that goes, “You’ll know when an important soccer match is being played in Africa because the continent will literally come to a standstill.”
“And it is true; everywhere you go, there are young boys kicking around a ball. As long as that ball can be kicked around, there will be a game.” She wrote
Her comment comes few days after she and her brother Ivan attended their second consecutive All-Star event last month to see some of the best performers in action, including their fellow African, GorguiDieng.
During All Star Weekend, NBA Africa and the Corporate Council of Africa co-hosted a luncheon at the St Regis Hotel that was well attended by different members of NBA leadership and the Corporate Council, along with various international investors, entrepreneurs, and government officials.
Ange Kagame says “The luncheon focused on the growth of the sport on the continent as a unifying agent and a catalyst in changing the image of Africa around the world.”
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver attended, along with Africa’s very own Masai Ujiri, the first African-born general manager for a North American major league sports team as well as for the Toronto Raptors; Amadou Gallo, Vice President for the NBA’s development in Africa; Dikembe Mutombo; Hall of Fame finalist; and Hakeem Olajuwon, Hall of Fame inductee.
Ange Kagame wonders “If legends such as Hakeem Olajuwon can become one of the world’s best NBA Players, and Luol Deng an all-star, then imagine the potential that would exist if basketball was just as much a part of African culture as soccer is.”
She said Sports support the survival of communities and are important for their role in building leadership skills and a sense of identity, promoting unity and peaceful, healthy societies by giving the youth something productive to do with their time.
“The initial efforts have been encouraging, but more work is needed. Its massive success in China has proven that the NBA can expand into foreign markets.
The hope is that with more resources being put into developing facilities and the sport in schools and youth centers, we can create a long list of prominent African players to dominate the NBA in years to come.” She concluded
Read the whole Piece in [Huffington Post->http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ange-kagame/is-african-soccer-the-nba_1_b_6794410.html]
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