Tunis
SHEFFIELD (Julio Chitunda’s African Message) - If you are one of those people wondering where next year’s AfroBasket (Men and Women) should or will take place, you are not alone. Over the course of the past few months, this has become the most recurrent question in African basketball scene.
As I write this column, none really knows - at least officially - who will host the two tournaments, although this may be clarified by the time the FIBA Africa Central board meets next month in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire.
SHEFFIELD (Julio Chitunda’s African Message) - If you are one of those people wondering where next year’s AfroBasket (Men and Women) should or will take place, you are not alone. Over the course of the past few months, this has become the most recurrent question in African basketball scene.
As I write this column, none really knows - at least officially - who will host the two tournaments, although this may be clarified by the time the FIBA Africa Central board meets next month in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire.
Unlike previous years when bidding processes were updated by December, this doesn’t seem to be the case.
But looking back at the last three decades, I fear it might be business as usual, which I feel goes against the purpose of promotion of the game. Small basketball nations need to step up and get involved.
But looking back at the last three decades, I fear it might be business as usual, which I feel goes against the purpose of promotion of the game. Small basketball nations need to step up and get involved.
Madagascar (MAD), AfroBasket 2011
Only 10 of Africa’s 54 countries have hosted the last 16 editions of the AfroBasket, and Algeria, Angola, Egypt, Cote d’Ivoire and Tunisia have organised the event at least twice since 1985. The women’s flagship competition is no much different as Mozambique, Senegal and Tunisia have taken the hosts duties at least twice.
The most obvious explanations for this to happen seems to be the popularity of the game in those countries as well as their capability of hosting the tournament.
The most obvious explanations for this to happen seems to be the popularity of the game in those countries as well as their capability of hosting the tournament.
Cameroon (CAM), AfroBasket Women 2015
But, is this the way forward for African basketball? I don’t think so. I think East African countries should be encouraged to host one of the next two tournaments in order to boost the game growth in that part of the continent.
It’s been over two decades since Kenya hosted the men’s event in 1993, before organising the the 1997 AfroBasket Women. Since then, Uganda, Rwanda and Tanzania have hosted FIBA Africa Zone 5 qualifiers, but not much has happened there.
Oddly enough, and judging by social media analytics, basketball seems to be booming in East Africa.
Obviously, organising a tournament of the AfroBasket magnitude involves adequate infrastructures, funding, sponsorship and dedication. And most African countries governments - President Macky Sall of Senegal has proved this theory wrong by announcing the construction of a modern sports hall in Diamniadio, on the outskirts of the capital Senegal, - are not famous for supporting non-football sporting events.
If high costs can put off minnow basketball African countries from AfroBasket tournaments, then joint-bids could be an option.
When I saw FIBA Europe attributing the hosts duties of EuroBasket 2015 to four countries - Croatia, France, Germany and Latvia -, and repeating the experience for the 2017 EuroBasket with hosts Finland, Israel, Romania and Turkey, I found the idea absolutely brilliant.
It’s been over two decades since Kenya hosted the men’s event in 1993, before organising the the 1997 AfroBasket Women. Since then, Uganda, Rwanda and Tanzania have hosted FIBA Africa Zone 5 qualifiers, but not much has happened there.
Oddly enough, and judging by social media analytics, basketball seems to be booming in East Africa.
Obviously, organising a tournament of the AfroBasket magnitude involves adequate infrastructures, funding, sponsorship and dedication. And most African countries governments - President Macky Sall of Senegal has proved this theory wrong by announcing the construction of a modern sports hall in Diamniadio, on the outskirts of the capital Senegal, - are not famous for supporting non-football sporting events.
If high costs can put off minnow basketball African countries from AfroBasket tournaments, then joint-bids could be an option.
When I saw FIBA Europe attributing the hosts duties of EuroBasket 2015 to four countries - Croatia, France, Germany and Latvia -, and repeating the experience for the 2017 EuroBasket with hosts Finland, Israel, Romania and Turkey, I found the idea absolutely brilliant.
EuroBasket 2017 host announcement ceremony
So, joint-bids could be an option for countries looking to promote and enter the international basketball scene.
Back in 2012, Equatorial Guinea joined forces with Gabon to host the football Africa Cup of Nations, and it worked out well. So, why not try it in basketball?
Madagascar, a small country off the coast of Mozambique in the Indian Ocean, has recently become a regular hosts of African basketball championships, and I see no reason why countries such as the South Africa, Ghana, Republic of Congo, wouldn’t follow suit.
Back in 2012, Equatorial Guinea joined forces with Gabon to host the football Africa Cup of Nations, and it worked out well. So, why not try it in basketball?
Madagascar, a small country off the coast of Mozambique in the Indian Ocean, has recently become a regular hosts of African basketball championships, and I see no reason why countries such as the South Africa, Ghana, Republic of Congo, wouldn’t follow suit.
By: Julio Chitunda for FIBA.com
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