September 24, 2022, The Jr. NBA “Bye Bye Vacance” camp held in Rwamagana, featuring 120 boys and girls ages 14-16 from 43 schools across the country has been successfully completed. A three-day kid’s fundamental skills and grassroots coaches’ capacity-building training was conducted by Basketball Development camps liaison at NBA Africa, Mr. Jöel Yoba.
In a collaboration through basketball development, FERWABA and NBA Africa had an agreement to organize the Jr NBA League in 2018. However, due to the recent pandemic that hit the world, the Jr NBA league had come to a screeching halt. Now that the situation has improved, the Rwanda governing body for Basketball together with NBA Africa come to an agreement that this coming school year, the U-15 Jr NBA league will be back in the most effective way.
Speaking to Moise Mutokambali, The Basketball National Technical Director gave us the overview and timing of this clinic camp.
“We thought that before the school year starts, we would re-launch the Jr NBA league in schools. We organized these camps that include coaching seminars as well as awakening to improve the fundamental skills for children under 16 years old.” Said Mutokambali
He continued. “Currently the program operates in 43 schools, reaching out to all corners of the country for both girls and boys. The league features 30 school teams which is the number of teams in the NBA.”
At Groupe Scolaire St Aloys Rwamagana Gymnasium, 120 children under the guidance of 30 grassroots coaches from their respective schools picked up the package that will enable them to play structural and standard basketball.
In an interview with Mr. Jöel Yoba, Basketball Development camps liaison at NBA Africa who conducted this three-day fruitful clinic, shortly outlines the purposes for this camp.
“The main purpose of this camp is working with kids at the grassroots level, improving the fundamental skills at the same time working with the coaches, equipping them with tools to get back to the schools and teach the kids in a better way.” Said, Mr. Yoba.
He carried on that NBA Africa camps are not only aimed to develop the core values of the game but people’s personalities too.
“This is a huge opportunity. Coming from different places, 43 schools from around Rwanda, came together to Rwamagana. they learn fundamental skills, how to play basketball, how to pass, dribble, shoot …and also make new friends; of course, there are some people they have never met before. I think this is an opportunity to grow not only as basketball players but as human beings.”
The training took place, went well, and was successfully completed. but how will the participants be monitored so that what they have learned is not in vain?
“The follow-up is simple. For the coaches, there is an assessment that needs to be made. With the partnership of FERWABA, we’re working so hard to make sure that all the coaches have the tools that will help them do the job and then go back to the schools.
“For the kids, they have an experience of what Jr NBA is. They are going back to school, tell their teammates that they attended a beautiful camp and they will encourage others to join the program” Explained, Jöel Yoba.
In conclusion, the American coach and Instructor explained how it feels to work with Rwandan kids. In an exciting way, he says that Rwandan kids are promising.
He said “Rwandan kids are amazing. On the court, they give 100%, they listen, and they pay attention to what the coaches say and this is what you need to be a great basketball player but also a great human being.”
According to Lydia Ketia Ndayisabye, a student at Ecole Notre Dame de la Providence Karubanda, the camp has taught them a lot that will help them improve their talents, and motivate them to play the game they love.
“I have been playing basketball for six years. during this camp, I acquired the skills of the game including shooting, stealing, defense, and other life skills to raise my talent happily and motivated “. Trainee Ndayisabye.
The Jr. NBA is a basketball development program for both boys and girls, teaching them fundamental skills at the grassroots level as well as developing and strengthening the skills of coaches.
