President Paul Kagame has commended two-time NBA champion Kawhi Leonard for inspiring young basketball talents at the Giants of Africa camp at Club Rafiki. Kagame, who visited the camp on Sunday, August 3 joined by Giants of Africa (GOA) founder and former Toronto Raptors president Masai Ujiri, said it was meaningful for the youngsters to meet professional athletes like Leonard. ALSO READ: Giants of Africa unveils new basketball courts in Kigali Let me begin by thanking Kawhi for taking the time to be here, connecting with these young people and helping them nurture the talent within themselves, the President said. It means a great deal to them, and to us, as we continue investing in our youth: helping them discover what they love and pursue it with excellence. For many, that passion is found in different sports, and in this case, in basketball. ALSO READ: Basketball: Rwanda’s Kayijuka named Giants of Africa tournament MVP The one-day camp brought together 50 young athletes aged 12 to 17, including GOA participants and local basketball talents. The training sessions, held at the outdoor court at the Nyamirambo-based facility, focused on core basketball skills such as dribbling, shooting, and passing. President Kagame expressed appreciation to Kawhi Leonard for taking time to travel to Rwanda and inspire the 320 campers from 20 African countries who participated in the just-concluded Giants of Africa Festival, alongside young Rwandan athletes. “It’s a huge opportunity for our young athletes and for us as a nation, as we invest in their future through sports,” the President said, adding that the NBA star would always be welcome in Rwanda. “Rwanda, Kigali is your home. You're welcome here anytime, and we hope to see these activities again,” he said. Kawhi reflected on his first visit to Rwanda. “It’s been great being here and seeing how supportive Rwanda is. That’s truly inspiring to the young athletes. I thank everyone who made this possible,” he said in an interview. Leonard arrived in Kigali on Thursday, July 31, to participate in various events of the Giants of Africa Festival, which aims to empower youth through basketball across the continent. The Los Angeles Clippers forward plays in the NBA’s Western Conference Pacific Division and is widely regarded as one of the top two-way players in the league.
