Marathon Legends Loroupe, Ndereba Laud High Profile Basketball Courts Unveiled By NBA In Nairobi

_{One of the high end state of the art basketball courts launched by the Government of Kenya, France and the NBA Africa at the Kenya Academy of Sports in Nairobi on Friday July 19, 2024. PHOTO/ ALEX ISOE}

NAIROBI, Kenya- The Government of Kenya, France and the National Basketball Association (NBA) on Friday launched two state of the art basketball courts at the Kenya Academy of Sports (KAS) in Kasarani, Nairobi.

The colorful ceremony was graced by various dignitaries and sports legends among them three-time World Half Marathon champion Tegla Loroupe and double Olympics silver medalist Catherine ‘The Great’ Ndereba.

The refurbished courts, whose launched also saw 150 boys and girls ages 16 and under benefit on a basketball clinic, are expected to support more than a thousand boys and girls from the surrounding communities

The high-profile sporting arenas came as a result of a partnership signed by President William Ruto, former Sports Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba and NBA Africa Chief Executive Officer Victor Williams in New York, USA last September.

The deal gives the American basketball federation the lee-way to nurture and develop young basketball talents in Kenya.

_{A tactician takes players through paces during the launch event held at the Kenya Academy of Sports in Nairobi on Friday July 19, 2024. PHOTO/ ALEX ISOE}

So far, the partnership has seen NBA set up a fifth African office in Nairobi where they have embarked on development of basketball infrastructures, training of coaches and promoting various age group competitions within the country.

While hailing the quality basketball courts launched, Loroupe gave all the stakeholders involved a thump up saying: ” As a former athlete, I’m happy to see that the Government of Kenya, France and the NBA are thinking about talents away from athletics that is dominated by Kenya internationally.

“Not everyone can run, and this is the reason why there should be harnessing of talents across other sport disciplines. It’s the only way to increase Kenya’s medal tally at the Olympics.”

Loroupe believes the executive courts are a true testament that Kenyan players will soon grace the lucrative NBA leagues.

“My prayer is that wonderful projects like these will be spread across the country to benefit other Kenyans,” the double New York Marathon champion said.

_{NBA Africa team with Kenyan and French government officials during the launch held in Nairobi on Friday July 19, 2024. PHOTO/ KAS}

The NBA Kenya Senior Director and Country Operations Lead, Michael Finley, predicted that Kenya will soon dominate the junior age group competitions in the continent with the help of the high-level infrastructures that the association is setting up across the country.

French Ambassador Arnaud Suquet said France is very much ready to work with Kenya to help the country upgrade its sports infrastructures at the grassroots.

He reiterated that the courts launched are part of the grassroots projects that France is helping Kenya to set up.

“We are glad to commission these courts because sports are a powerful vehicle for development. It also acts as a vector to youth empowerment and education,” Suquet stated.

On his part, Sports Principal Secretary Peter Tum said the infrastructures being set up by the NBA and other entities involved will help youths to nurture and monetize their talents.

“The Government is happy to partner with the NBA and the French Government coming on board to better this plan is the icing on the cake.

“The State plans to develop 290 Sports Academies across the country and this partnership could not have come at a better time than this,” stated Tum.

_{Sports Principal Secretary Peter Tum (Middle) watches as young players attempt their luck on the paint. PHOTO/ ALEX ISOE}

During the occasion, NBA Africa and Agence Française de Development (AFD) announced the Junior NBA and AFD Basketball Experience to be held in Nairobi.

Basketball Experience is a youth development program that will feature weekly basketball and life-skills sessions to educate Kenyan youth about the importance of physical and mental health and wellbeing.

The initiative builds on NBA Africa and AFD’s existing Basketball Experience programming in greater Casablanca, Morocco and Lagos, Nigeria, and aims to use basketball as a platform to promote social inclusion and inspire secondary school children as change makers in their local communities.