The buzz is on! The mood is 100 per cent charged and Kigali Arena is ready, but besides the basketball fever that has gripped the city ahead of the Basketball Africa League (BAL), Rwandans are excited to know which stars will be jetting in ahead of the May 16 tip off.
The inaugural season of BAL which will be hosted by Kigali Arena from May 16 to 30, will see 12 elite African basketball teams tussle it out on the court for the honours in the National Basketball League (NBA)-supported league aimed at uplifting the game on the African continent.
With just two days left to the tip off, Kigali is bracing itself for several stars who include current and former NBA players who have thrown their weight behind the highly anticipated league.
The arrival of American rapper J Cole in Rwanda, who is set to feature for the Rwandan side Patriots BBC in the league, opened a window into what to expect ahead of the 12-team league opening.
Organisers have kept the list of guests of celebrities and VIPs who will attend BAL under wraps but The New Times understands that a myriad of stars and VIPs will feature in the league which will be broadcast across Francophone and Anglophone countries and territories in sub-Saharan Africa.
J. Cole turned up the star power of the league which has also been backed by prominent basketball players like Chris Paul of Phoenix Suns and Toronto Raptors Cameroonian star Pascal Siakam as well as the President of Toronto Raptors, Masai Ujiri.
"There will be more than a dozen celebrities and basketball stars who will be attending the opening of BAL but the names are yet to be fully confirmed,” a source close to the organisation tells The New Times.
Mr Eazi is among the stars already in Rwanda.
Apart from J. Cole, also in Rwanda is Nigerian-Ghanaian singer Mr. Eazi, who is among the performers at BAL tip off set for Sunday, May 16, alongside celebrated American female Dj Poizon Ivy, the official disk jockey for NBA giants Dallas Mavericks.
Reports indicated that American singer Ciara was also in the country for BAL but this could not be confirmed by the time we were doing this story.
"It is a hoax, Ciara is not in Rwanda,” the source says. Local MCs and show hosts as well as DJs have been lamenting about being left out, with a debate ensuing on social media on the involvement of locals.
Sports journalist David Bayingana is among those who complained about local talent not featuring much in the league but some social media users were quick to remind him that BAL is a continental event and gives opportunities to all Africans.
The New Times can confirm that singer Bruce Melodie, who recently signed a mega deal with Kigali Arena, will be among the performers, having produced the official BAL song ‘Game on’.
Bruce Melodie produced the tournament's official song.
Kenyan journalist George Ndirangu, currently working for BBC Africa is said to be the official MC of the tournament.
A delegation of 150, including NBA stars, officials, cheerleaders, coaches and FIBA staff will be joining the BAL bubble. Fans too have an option of buying tickets but must possess a negative PCR test for COVID-19.
On Wednesday, BAL announced partnerships with Canal+, ESPN, beIN SPORTS, NBA TV, Tencent Video, TSN, American Forces Network (AFN) and Voice of America (VOA) to broadcast BAL games throughout Africa and around the world.
Rwanda’s Patriots Basketball Club will take on Nigeria’s Rivers Hoopers on Sunday while other opening games in the group phase will feature Senegal’s Association Sportive des Douanes vs. Algeria’s Groupement Sportif des Pétroliers.
Egypt’s Zamalek will take on Mozambique’s Ferroviàrio de Maputo, while Tunisia’s Union Sportive Monastirienne vs. Madagascar’s Gendarmerie Nationale Basketball Club, Angola’s Petro de Luanda vs. Mali’s Association Sportive de la Police, and Morocco’s Association Sportive de Salé vs Cameroon’s Forces Armées et Police Basketball.
The BAL finals will be held Sunday, May 30. Canal+ and ESPN will air all 26 BAL games across Francophone and Anglophone countries and territories in sub-Saharan Africa.