Our goal is to improve structures - Fall, NBA Africa CEO

Former director of scouting for the Dallas Mavericks, Amadou Fall is now the CEO of NBA Africa. It is up exclusively for Fiba Africa on the objectives of the NBA in Africa with Basketball Without Borders in particular.


Why the NBA decided to settle in Africa ?
We had an experience in South Africa. Since 2003, we organized Basketball Without Borders in Johannesburg. And, for the first time we were in Dakar (Senegal). We want to develop basketball and NBA in Africa. All the people want to see sports in general and basketball in particular.

What's the goal of the NBA ?
Our goal is to improve structures. We want more basketball players. Now, our games will broadcast on the TV in Senegal for the first time. We're working with young players and coaches. We want to improve them.
The aim is to organize NBA games in Africa.

It will be preseason games?
At the beginning, yes. This year, we'll have some games in London. We're working on this project.

Which actions did you make since you settle in Africa?
We have NBA Cares since 2005. We built 30 basketball courts. Our aim is to use basketball as a positive social change.
With Adidas, and Nike, we welcomed NBAs coaches such as Triano, Carlisle, Hollins and Lance Ebanks the new GM of Phoenix and we are proud to have Masai Ujiri, who is the GM of the Nuggets.

What is the reaction of NBA franchises from Africa? Their look has changed?
They are always open with foreign players. It's usual to have European, African players in the league. Before, we had African players such as Olajuwon, 2 times NBAs champion, Dikembe Mutombo and his long career... In the last 20 years, we had at least 25 African players playing in NBA. But it's more difficult to follow a player in Africa than in Europe. We hope more young players will come in the USA when they're young and then come back in Africa.

The biggest problem in Africa is not the political situation?
Personally, I think the biggest problem is the structures. There are a lot of arenas in Africa which aren't overcast. So it's difficult to organize big events.


Courtesy: www.fiba-afrique.org