The U.S. Embassy’s Chargé d’Affaires Mary Daschbach joined NBA Africa Director, the Congolese Minister of Sports, MTN-Congo’s CEO and the former NBA Champion of the Miami Heat Ronny Turiaf launch a historic 2-year partnership in Congo. Thirty high schools from Brazzaville will compete in the Jr NBA tournament. During the opening ceremony, Chargé Daschbach praised NBA Africa for investing in youth, developing basketball talent, and encouraging leadership skills for nearly 500 Congolese students. Detroit’s Pistons dazzled the audience with acrobatic dunks. Jr NBA organizers hope the program will lead to sports scholarships and exchange opportunities. NBA Africa plans for the program to grow nationally. The partnership is an example of innovative private sector partnerships and youth engagement through sports.
