Rwanda’s basketball talent development is projected to reap big from Visit Rwanda’s latest long-term partnership with NBA club Los Angeles Clippers, according to Rwanda Development Board (RDB) Chief Strategy and Communications Officer Vallière Sheja. While Visit Rwanda’s international sports collaborations have previously led to the establishment of football academies by Paris Saint Germain in Huye and Bayern Munich in Kigali, the most recent agreement with the Clippers goes beyond just visibility as it also involves direct investment in basketball development in Rwanda. ALSO READ: LA Clippers: The story of NBA’s new Visit Rwanda partner “There is always the sports development part in the partnerships, as Paris Saint Germain opened an academy in Huye and Bayern Munich also has an academy in Rwanda,” Sheja said in a press conference on Tuesday, September 30. Under the new partnership, the Clippers will contribute to the refurbishment of basketball courts in Rwanda every year. The team will also organise training camps, with its youth coaches traveling to Rwanda to share technical knowledge with local trainers and young players. In addition, virtual coaching sessions will be held to enhance skills exchange between Rwandan coaches and their American counterparts. The Clippers’ G League affiliate, the San Diego Clippers, will host youth coaches from Rwanda annually for training programs in the United States. These activities are designed to strengthen grassroots basketball and provide opportunities for local talent development. ALSO READ: Could South America be Visit Rwanda next stop? Brazil envoy thinks so “In partnership with the LA Clippers, we will have refurbishment of basketball courts every year in Rwanda. We will also have training camps with coaches coming here to share skills, talent and knowledge to our trainers and future talents,” Sheja said. Explaining the strategic shift from European football teams, Sheja noted that Visit Rwanda’s recent focus on basketball and American football reflects the popularity of these sports on the U.S. market. He emphasized that targeting U.S.-based audiences requires partnerships with American teams and sports that resonate locally, such as the NBA and NFL, rather than relying on football (soccer), which has less influence in the U.S. sporting landscape. “Now the strategy has been based on how we can access directly to the U.S. audience. Since soccer has limited following in the U.S., the most effective way was to work with American teams in sports that resonate locally. Obviously, the NBA and NFL stand out as the prime options.”
