The Basketball Africa League finally got underway in Kigali over the weekend with Patriots of Rwanda beating Nigeria’s Rivers Hoopers 83-60 in an entertaining opener that helped showcase Africa to the rest of the world. The BAL, the brainchild of a partnership between NBA and FIBA, promises to be an important platform for African youth to express themselves and pursue their dream at the elite level of basketball, in a way never seen before. The 12 teams, drawn from across Africa that are participating at the inaugural BAL tournament, are not only showcasing the continent’s immense talent but they are also helping to inspire millions of young people around the continent. Beyond enhancing talent, basketball – like any other sports discipline –, is a valuable source of income that has impacted lives around the world and unlocks opportunities for particularly young people in many ways. Yet talent is far from being enough. Talent is nothing without vision, discipline and consistency. The young people of Rwanda and indeed around Africa need to be deliberate to grow and excel in sport and to embrace a change mindset. Young people should not just look at sport as an avenue to make a name or money. It has the potential to transform lives socially and economically and influence positive change in our way of life. For Rwanda, the youth should take advantage of the renewed momentum toward reviving the sports sector and promoting the country as a top destination. For policymakers, there is a need to ensure that all the relevant institutions and stakeholders are synch with each other so as to have maximum impact. It’s hard to achieve the intended goal if the players are not on the same page. Crucially, sport will help consolidate Rwanda’s ambition to become a top Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) and investment destination.
