NBA Africa (www.NBA.com) and Africell, one of the fastest-growing mobile network operators in Africa, recently introduced an indoor basketball court at 1˚ de Maio at Av. Deolinda Rodrigues in Luanda, Angola. This initiative is part of their ongoing collaboration to utilize basketball for the benefit of Angolan youth. The newly donated court, operated by the city of Luanda, will serve as a safe space for the local community to engage in basketball activities year-round, including hosting Jr. NBA events and programming in the future.
The court unveiling ceremony was led by Africell Angola CEO Jorge Vazquez and NBA Africa CEO Clare Akamanzi. They were accompanied by Angolan NBA Academy Africa prospect Aginaldo Neto, who is set to join Petro de Luanda for the 2024 Basketball Africa League (BAL) season as part of the BAL Elevate program. Following the ceremony, the court facilitated exhibition games featuring men’s and women’s teams from the local community.
CEO Jorge Vazquez of Africell Angola expressed, “By making basketball more accessible to young Angolans, the partnership between Africell and NBA Africa is having a big impact. This new facility brings basketball closer to the aspiring players in Angola.” NBA Africa CEO Clare Akamanzi added, “This beautiful new court not only honors Angola’s basketball tradition but also expands our youth development initiatives throughout the continent. Thanks to Africell’s support, more youth in Luanda will have the opportunity to learn and play basketball in a secure environment throughout the year.”
In addition to the court unveiling and exhibition games, NBA Africa and Africell organized a Jr. NBA clinic in Lubango for 250 boys and girls under 18 years old. Last year, they conducted Jr. NBA clinics, a 3-on-3 basketball tournament, and a Her Time to Play basketball clinic and leadership workshop for 200 girls under 16 years old and 20 female basketball coaches.
The new court further builds on NBA Africa’s prior initiatives in Angola, including hosting Basketball Without Borders (BWB) Africa in Luanda in 2016 and a Jr. NBA league in Luanda in 2017 and 2018. The BWB program has impacted almost 100 Angolan boys and girls since its inception in Africa in 2003.
Moreover, Angola’s Petro de Luanda will represent the country in the 2024 BAL season for the fourth consecutive year.
For further details, please contact:
Contacts:
Sam Williams
Africell Communications
swilliams@africell.com
+44 7485 649 555
Pawel Weszka
NBA Africa Communications
pweszka@nba.com
+27 10 0072666
About Africell:
Africell provides fast, reliable, low-cost mobile network coverage and related technology services to nearly 20 million subscribers in sub-Saharan Africa. The company operates in Angola, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sierra Leone, and The Gambia. Africell, a U.S.-owned company headquartered in London, directly and indirectly employs over 10,000 individuals. Africell also supports social initiatives in sports, health, education, entrepreneurship, and arts across its markets.
For more information, visit www.Africell.com or connect with Africell on LinkedIn.
About NBA Africa:
NBA Africa is affiliated with the National Basketball Association (NBA) and aims to inspire and connect people globally through basketball. NBA Africa oversees the league’s operations in Africa, including the BAL, with subsidiary offices in Cairo, Dakar, Lagos, and Nairobi. The NBA has a strong presence in Africa and established its African headquarters in Johannesburg in 2010. The league’s efforts on the continent focus on increasing access to basketball through various initiatives.
NBA games and programming are accessible in all 54 African countries, and the league has organized three sold-out exhibition games in Africa since 2015. The BAL, a professional league featuring 12 club teams from Africa, started its fourth season in March 2024. Fans can follow @NBA_Africa and @theBAL on social media platforms.