This week in How African Basketball is Changing the Game in Africa

South Sudan-born professional basketball player, Wenyen Gabriel received a hero’s welcome from his hometown Juba; Everlyne Kedogo explains how a coaching clinic is changing her life; 3×3 at the Commonwealth Games.

By Silalei Shani

NBA basketball player Wenyen Gabriel gave back to his community earlier this week when he received a hero’s welcome in his hometown of Juba. Wenyen, whose family fled the violence of the country’s “second civil war” moved to the United States after a brief time in Egypt when he was very young.

Wenyen was passed over in the 2018 draft after playing two seasons at the Kentucky Wildcats, piling up accolades including being ranked #14 in ESPN’s top 100 players. A towering 6’9″ (over two meters) and weighing over 200 lbs (90 kg), Wenyen has played for six different NBA teams, most recently signing a 2-year contract with the Los Angeles Lakers in March. Despite this being the first time the power forward has been back in South Sudan since leaving, he said he has always had a strong desire to give back.

“I want to show how basketball can help change the minds of young South Sudanese and, hopefully, it can help change the next person’s life by following in the footsteps of those who came earlier. I want to keep bringing new things through basketball to our country,” Gabriel shared at a 4-day camp he held in Juba during his 10-day visit.

The camp for budding players was held from July 22-24 at the Dr Bair Sports Complex and the Juba Basketball Stadium, mainly focusing on the youth and showing how basketball can help transform lives.

FIBA Africa continued its commitment to developing every facet of basketball on the continent, by organizing a 3-day FIBA Coach Instructors Level 1 Course from July 19 to July 21 in Abidjan, Cote D’Ivoire. The 3-day course was aimed at equipping national federations with local instructors. Among the 17 pre-selected candidates from 15 countries were three women, including Kenyan youth coach and former national team player, Everlyne Kedogo.

“It speaks volumes that they would actually select me to be among the second group of Level 1 trainees, the first one having been done in Dubai,” Kedogo shared with bird.

Successful candidates will be issued with a Level 1 instructor’s certificate, which will allow them to coach at a junior level (up to U-15). Those who pass will not only be coaches in their countries but will be eligible to run courses all over the world as Kedego shared what this opportunity means to her,

“I love it because it’s taking me where I’ve always wanted to go. It’s allowing me to share my experience in basketball and change lives as I do that,” Kedogo explained.

Meanwhile, the start of the 2022 Commonwealth Games taking place in Birmingham, UK, is providing a boost for 3×3 basketball. The game’s popularity has grown from the streets to the official courts of the world and now, to major international sports events. Inspired by streetball and having gained Olympic status right before the 2021 Olympic Games, 3×3 has experienced explosive growth and become much more professional, leading to inclusion in the Olympics and now also in the Commonwealth Games. Kenya is the only African country sending teams to participate in all three divisions – the Men’s 3×3, Women’s 3×3 and Wheelchair Basketball. The action takes place from July 29 to August 2.

bird story agency