Ten thousand kids in Liberia have been identified to participate in the
Junior National Basketball Association program that was recently
launched in the country on April 12, 2018.
Junior NBA is the global youth participation program for
boys and girls intends to teach the fundamental skills and core values
of the game at the grassroots level to help improve the youth basketball
experience for players, coaches and parents.
The program officially kicked off at
the American International School in the Old Road community, with
exhibition matches involving over 100 selected kids in the presence of
President George Weah and his wife Clar Weah who expressed joy seeing
kids displaying their talents.
Speaking to reporters at the launch, the Vice President
and Managing Director for Africa, Amadou Gallo Fall, said the program
coming to Liberia was as a result of consultations with President Weah.
“After nearly three years of consultations, exploration and forward discussion we are excited about this outcome,” he said.
He disclosed that following a productive meeting in March
of 2018 with the President and the First lady in Paris, France hosted by
French President Emmanuel Macorn, the program has come to Liberia.
Fall said program is committed to developing sports
education and youth development programs for both boys and girls between
the ages of six to 18 years by culminating with Jr. NBA league and
inter-scholastic and community basketball league featuring NBA modelled
team from communities and schools that will participate in the Jr. NBA
program.
The league will run throughout the academic school year
with over 250 games with an objective of targeting approximately 10, 000
kids, coaches and parents over the season.
The program will renovate existing and iconic outdoor and
indoor basketball courts in Monrovia while new facilities will be built
to encourage more kids to play the sport.
President Weah said his government is committed to developing sports in the country and basketball is no expectation.
The Liberia leader, who is a former sports icon, is of the conviction that supporting basketball from the grassroot is key to a successful basketball national team for Liberia.
He appreciated Junior NBA for identifying Liberia to invest in the feature generation of the country.
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