PORTO-NOVO (Benin) – A group of fifteen coaches from twelve African countries will gather in Porto-Novo, the capital of Benin, from April 24-27 to take part in the first African Mini Basketball Forum of the year.
The event is organized with the support of the FIBA Foundation.
Located in the southern part of the country, Porto-Novo will host for the first time a major event dedicated to the promotion of mini-basketball, a key discipline in introducing young children to the sport.
For this inaugural edition, 15 coaches - eight men and seven women - have been selected by FIBA Africa.
Representing twelve nations from across the continent, they will take part in four days of intensive training under the guidance of two experienced FIBA experts: Guillermo Calvo of Spain and Alkaya Touré of Mali.
Touré is well known in the West African basketball scene. He currently works for the Benin Basketball Federation, where he is the national technical director.
These instructors will be tasked with teaching the basic principles of Mini Basketball to the participating coaches.
Upon returning to their respective countries, participants will be expected to establish grassroots structures within their national federations to promote the development of Mini Basketball. Specifically, each coach must organize at least two training sessions before the end of the year.
At the same time, 400 Beninese children, including 200 girls between the ages of 6 and 12, will participate in the Forum's activities.
During the four-day event, they will be introduced to Mini Basketball through fun and educational workshops led by the newly trained coaches and FIBA experts. The focus will be on learning through fun in a friendly and energetic environment.
Mini Basketball plays a critical role in the early athletic development of young children. It is often the first introduction to basketball, helping to develop not only physical skills, but also values such as teamwork, discipline and respect.
The FIBA Africa Development Council, which is overseeing the organization of the forum, aims to expand the initiative by holding up to three such gatherings a year across the continent.
The long-term goal is clear: to encourage national federations to organize regular Mini Basketball activities and lay a strong foundation for the future of African basketball.
FIBA