BAMAKO (Mali) - The Stade du 26 Mars was the place to be for many Malian basketball coaches and officials, who spent five days (26–30 January 2026) learning about the latest trends in the game.
The instructor for this international basketball symposium was none other than the experienced basketball coach, Joe Touomou.
The programme, organised by the National Union of Basketball Coaches of Mali (UNEB-Mali), was designed to bring coaches up to speed with the latest developments in the game.
Over the course of five intensive days, some coaches from Mali had the opportunity to engage in high-level discussions centred on new training methods, performance, the development of young players, and the evolution of modern basketball.
This international symposium aimed to be a strategic event dedicated to excellence, expertise sharing, and the professional development of national coaches.
This significant initiative confirms UNEB - Mali's commitment to establishing a high-quality coaching system - an essential foundation for the future of Malian basketball.
In a conversation with FIBA.basketball, Coach Joe Toumou sums it up, saying, "It’s been a great experience for the coaches and myself."
The International Symposium of the National Union of Basketball Coaches of Mali (UNEB) officially launched on Monday 26 January 2026 in the basketball hall at Stade du 26 Mars in Bamako.
Joe Toumou said he was honoured and excited to be collaborating with Malian coaches as part of this valuable exchange of experiences and skills.
The second day of the symposium was characterised by a strong educational focus and exceptional dedication from the attending coaches.
The sessions alternated between theoretical presentations in the stands and practical demonstrations on the court.
Participants were able to delve deeper into key aspects of the modern game, such as reading situations, positioning, timing and correcting technical skills.
Direct exchanges between the instructor and the coaches fostered a better understanding of the details that make a difference in player development.
On the court, practical exercises provided concrete examples of the discussed principles, particularly with regard to fundamental training, precise movements, and movement-based pedagogy.
The interaction between instructors and participants fostered an environment conducive to skill development.
The third day confirmed the exceptional momentum of training and knowledge sharing that had been established since the start of the event. The morning was marked by interactive sessions in which the coaches actively participated by analysing game situations, asking specific questions and sharing their experiences in the field.
The studious atmosphere and the participants' commitment demonstrated their genuine desire to raise the level of Malian basketball by mastering technical and tactical details.
Touomou engaged the attending coaches using a participatory approach, highlighting the exercises proposed by the symposium's coaches. This method of exchange enriched the educational content, enabling comparisons with real-world situations and strengthening the coaches' confidence in their own tools.
The practical demonstrations thus took on a collective, dynamic and concrete dimension.Some of the participants noted the following from the information gathered: "Through the images, we can clearly see how much pleasure Joe Touomou takes in sharing his knowledge. His attitude, commitment on the court and interactions with participants reveal him to be a passionate coach driven by a desire to help others improve," a participant said.
"We see a coach who not only demonstrates, but also shares, explains, corrects and emphasises every detail of the game. This joy of teaching is reflected in his close relationships with young players and coaches alike, creating a positive and motivating learning environment."
FIBA