By David Emile
In preparation for the 2022 Commonwealth and 2024 Olympic Games, the Sierra Leone Basketball Association has been offered an invitation by Mayor Frederic Burghard of Luxeuil-Les-Bains City in France for a training camp scheduled for 12-28 March, 2022.
According to Shamsu Mustapha, one of the Association’s officials intimated that the trip will encompass the camping of players, training of coaches, referees and administrators, on how to manage their federation and to organize proper events, friendly matches against Belgium, Switzerland and the host, France.
“The fixture has already been drawn for the first game scheduled to play on the 15th March,” he said. He continued that the trained officials when they return home will organize a nationwide training for coaches and other officials. He mentioned the proposed signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for a basketball development project with the French Basketball Federation, which Senegal is presently benefiting from in terms of infrastructure, equipment and technical supports.
He added that it is an opportunity that the basketball team will benefit from every year and it is also going to serve as a good opportunity in terms of exposing the players to standard facilities in future international tournaments. Shamsu further disclosed that the team is going to participate in the 2022 Commonwealth Games African Regional Championship.
He concluded by thanking the Government of Sierra Leone through the Ministry of Sports and the National Sports Authority for their supports, adding that the delegation is going to be headed by Joseph Nyande, President of the Sierra Leone Basketball Association.
The delegation comprises both home and foreign based players, officials of the Sierra Leone Basketball Association, Ministry of Sports and National Sports Authority officials.
