The Giants of Africa (GOA) festival which is underway in Kigali from August 13-19, is, among other aspects, showcasing basketball talent and camaraderie. ALSO READ: How Giants of Africa found home in Rwanda Here's a breakdown of what you need to know about the GOA games. Diverse participation The GOA festival brings together 250 young participants from 16 different African countries. Represented nations are Kenya, Tanzania, Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, Rwanda, DR Congo, Senegal, Somalia, Uganda, Botswana, Ghana, South Sudan, Morocco, Cameroon and Mali. These enthusiastic youth campers converge at the event to engage in friendly competitions. ALSO READ: Giants of Africa brings diversity and energy to Rwanda Tournament format The games are organized in a round-robin tournament format where teams play between them. In a round-robin tournament, the winner is the participant who wins the most games, unless ties can happen. This type of tournament is designed to be the fairest way to decide the champion among a fixed number of participants. It offers equal chances for each participant, whether they are individuals or teams, to compete against every other opponent without any prior rankings affecting the matches. This helps reduce the impact of luck compared to other systems, like knockout formats, where a single poor performance can eliminate a contender. The results of all participants are more accurate and representative, as they reflect performance over a longer period against the same opponents. ALSO READ: Diamond Platnumz lauds Kagame at Giants of Africa festival This tournament system is not only effective in determining the winner but also in ranking all participants. It provides a comprehensive ranking of all competitors, showing their relative strengths from highest to lowest. During the GOA Festival, a total of 97 games are scheduled to take place over a span of three days, Wednesday to Friday, August 18. Championship games The pinnacle of the tournament is the Boys Championship Game and the Girls Championship Game. These games showcase the top teams that have performed exceptionally well throughout the tournament. It's a chance for players to shine and demonstrate their teamwork, strategy, and basketball prowess. All-Star game One of the most exciting parts of the GOA festival is the All-Star Game, scheduled for August 18. Prior to this game, two teams, Conference Mandela and Conference Madiba, will be formed. Each conference will select the best 12 athletes from the participating teams to compete against each other. The All-Star Game is a display of incredible talent, and players strive to earn a spot on these prestigious select teams. Player perspectives Players who spoke to Times Sport hailed the GOA games as a good platform for basketball talent showcase for youths taking part in the camp. Andy Sheja Bayingana, a Rwandan center, described the experience as “amazing”. “It is highly competitive out there. Every time you step onto the concrete floor, you have to give your absolute best. There are many strong teams, but I firmly believe that we can become a great team. My hope is to make it to the all-star team and proudly represent Rwanda, she said. Mathew Kisakye, a combo-guard from Uganda, also said that he is enjoying every moment in the camp and that the GOA games are among the best parts of the camp that she is enjoying most. The overall experience has been really enjoyable. We've been having a great time at the camp. Everything has been positive, from the coaches to the supportive atmosphere. The participating countries are strong contenders, especially with Mali and Senegal in our group. It promises to be an enriching experience, and I'm eager to secure a spot on the all-star team and, who knows, maybe even earn the title of MVP, he said. Myriam Guiolobo, a 19-year-old female athlete from Cameroon, sees the GOA games as a valuable platform for young basketball players besides being an exciting showcase to African talents. I may be young, but I've been involved in basketball for quite some time now. The tournament format is truly exciting because it allows us to compete against all the countries present here,” Guilobo said. “It's a fantastic opportunity to gain valuable experience, witness the skills of players from different nations, make an impression on our coaches, and challenge ourselves. My aspiration is to earn a spot in the all-star game, a chance to showcase my abilities and contribute to the team, she added.
