Africa’s top men’s basketball league – known as the Basketball Africa League (BAL) – have announced its partnership Entrepreneurial Solutions Partners (ESP). This makes ESP not only the official partner of the BAL, but also the league’s country partner in Rwanda.
The announcement was made by BAL president Amadou Gallo Fall and ESP chief executive Eric Kacou in Kigali, coinciding with the 2022 BAL play-offs and finals set to culminate with the second BAL finals on Saturday, 28 May 2022.
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Through the partnership, the BAL and ESP will provide youth and entrepreneurs in Rwanda with learning and development opportunities, basketball training and life skills sessions. As part of the partnership, ESP will bring together 150 graduates and entrepreneurs from the East African country for the Sports Business Future Stars Camp. This is a weeklong professional development programme and immersion into Africa’s sports industry in Kigali.
“We are very excited to partner with ESP, who share our commitment to inspiring, empowering and developing the next generation of entrepreneurs and business leaders in Africa,” said Fall.
More than just sports
“Ultimately, our goal is to build the BAL into a world-class professional basketball league that will be an anchor for the robust sport business industry we want in Africa. The BAL’s impact is felt far beyond the court, and the Sports Business Future Stars Camp will be a great platform to use the transformative power of basketball to bring together young leaders from different backgrounds and provide them with the tools to excel.”
“Rwanda has made significant strides in launching its sports industry, and this immersive program in sports training will unleash the potential of youth to secure dignified jobs in the industry,” said Kacou.
“Our ultimate goal through this ground-breaking partnership with the BAL is to develop a new generation of sports leaders for Africa.”
ESP joins the BAL’s roster of world-class marketing partners, which includes Foundational Partners New Fortress Energy, Rwanda Development Board, Nike, Jordan Brand and Wilson, and official partners Air Senegal, Attorney General Alliance, Destination Senegal, Envol City and Hennessy.
The expanded 2022 BAL season features the top 12 club teams from 12 African countries playing a total of 38 games in three cities over three months. Tickets are on sale now in several categories, including group tickets, premium tickets and standard tickets.
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