Signature of partnership between Benin and the NBA: The realization of a dream

Beninese basketball is gradually leaving the path of amateurism. After the reforms initiated by the government, the support of certain partners and the young officials project, it's the turn of the National Basketball Association (NBA) to add his stone to the building. A partnership agreement was signed between the Beninese Ministry of Sports and the Africa branch of the NBA this Tuesday 17 May 2022 to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation. He is the Minister of Sports, Oswald Homeky, in person, who initialed the document with the CEO NBA Africa, Victor Williams.

The representative of the largest basketball league in the world praised the achievements of the Beninese government in promoting the sport. “We were able to see the vision and commitment of Benin to develop sport for the benefit of youth” said Victor Williams while adding that Benin has a chance to have Ian Mahinmi but also the CEO NBA Africa especially took commitment, “that of encouraging all activities in the field of sport, particularly basketball”.

“The main goal of this partnership is the professionalization of Beninese basketball. The convention will take into account the training of basketball coaches, the young officials program and talent detection through the NBA Academy” explained Oswald Homeky. By this new situation “…the performances of our teams and our athletes will no longer be a matter of chance but will be the logical crowning achievement of our good organization, of the efforts that we will have made to put in place a good structure for our sport and the massive investments that we will have made in the sector” indicated the Minister of Sports. Very happy with the realization of the said signing of an agreement with the League which brings together more than 400 players and the best around the world, the boss of Beninese sports invited the Beninese Basketball Federation to continue efforts to achieve the objectives. “When we give ourselves the means, we end up achieving our goals. The NBA is the culmination of an entire sporting career and we must give the Beninese the opportunity, whatever its status, to believe in your dream and make it come true”.

Ismahinl Onifadé, President of the Beninese Basketball Federation and his entire committee are delighted with this agreement which will undoubtedly further boost the practice of basketball in Benin.

The agreement, it should be noted, came to fruition with the full commitment of the Ian Mahinmi Foundation., a French basketball player of Beninese origin, NBA champion in 2011 with Dallas Mavericks.

Damien TOLOMISSI