NBA Africa CEO Clare Akamanzi suggests that more efforts and a new direction in the sports industry can positively impact economic development on the continent. Akamanzi was speaking on the sidelines of the All-Star game event in the United States, alongside a host of officials including Amadou Gallo Fall, the president of the Basketball Africa League. ALSO READ: Rwanda’s Akamanzi appointed NBA Africa CEO “We saw that economically we were actually benefiting as a country when we invested in sports, the facilities of the entire ecosystem and, so, having seen the evidence of that from a country level, I think it's exciting to imagine what we can do at a continental level,” Akamanzi said. She noted that if what has been done in Rwanda can be scaled up on the continental level, the continent stands an opportunity to see sports as an economic driver. Among the major investments that Rwanda has made in sports infrastructure include the establishment of the Kigali Arena (rebranded BK Arena), revamping Amahoro Stadium, in addition to many smaller sports amenities. From such investments, Rwanda has, in return, been able to host some big sports events ranging from BAL to the FIBA Afrobasket. ALSO READ: Basketball fraternity backs new NBA Africa chief Akamanzi Just like the NBA has established itself as world-class basketball franchise made in the United States, Africa is also looking to give its finest talents a big spotlight to show what they can offer to the world of basketball through the emerging BAL. Talking about BAL, Akamanzi said such a tournament has brought new improvement in continent’s elite club basketball competition while it also serves in promoting young talents. “Many times young people used to think that to make their dreams come true, they had to leave the continent because there were no opportunities. I think what BAL is doing and what the NBA is investing is really changing that[trend], she said, noting that now people find world-class opportunities on the continent. Amadou Gallo Fall also praised the work that BAL is achieving in talent promotion. “With the amount of talent that we have in Africa, you just knew that if you created the enabling environment, the talent was going to emerge, the talon was going to find its way in the best. Basketball league in the world, the NBA,” he noted.
