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Doha – NBA Africa and the University Mohammed VI Polytechnic (UM6P) have announced their most extensive youth basketball development program in Morocco, introducing the most comprehensive basketball program to date in the country.
The collaboration, announced Friday at UM6P France in Paris, will establish Morocco’s first NBA Basketball School and four Jr. NBA leagues across multiple cities.
Implemented through UM6P’s sports development subsidiary EVOSPORT in partnership with Act4Community from the OCP Group ecosystem, the program aims to reach approximately 2,000 young athletes annually.
It will operate in four strategic locations: Khouribga, Gantour, Laayoune, and El Jadida.
NBA Africa CEO Clare Akamanzi emphasized the country’s enthusiasm for the sport: “We have seen firsthand through our previous initiatives in Morocco that there is incredible passion for basketball across the country.”
Akamanzi added that the organization looks forward to “significantly expanding our youth basketball development efforts in the country and providing opportunities for thousands of Moroccan youth to learn and play the game.”
The comprehensive program includes specialized training for over 200 local coaches through Jr. NBA Coaches Workshops in each city.
Read also: UM6P Announces EVOSPORT Initiative to Boost Morocco’s Sports Development
This builds upon NBA Africa’s existing impact in Morocco, where they have already reached more than 100,000 youth and coaches through various development programs.
UM6P President Hicham El Habti expressed optimism about the initiative’s potential impact. “We are thrilled to work with NBA Africa to bring this transformative youth basketball program to Morocco,” he said.
“At UM6P, we believe in the power of sports to inspire and develop young minds. This collaboration aligns perfectly with our mission to foster innovation and contribute to the socio-economic development of Africa.”
The announcement comes ahead of the first Basketball Africa League (BAL) games scheduled to take place in Morocco in April.
The signing ceremony brought together key figures including NBA Deputy Commissioner and Chief Operating Officer Mark Tatum, and BAL President Amadou Gallo Fall.
This initiative expands upon previous collaborations between NBA Africa and the OCP Group, which included Jr. NBA leagues in Benguerir and Khouribga.
The program aligns with OCP Group’s corporate social responsibility efforts, aiming to improve living standards through various initiatives including sports development.
UM6P, a Moroccan institution focused on developing solutions to continental and global challenges, launched EVOSPORT with the specific goal of contributing to a sustainable Moroccan and African sports ecosystem.
Through this partnership, the university continues its commitment to innovation and human development across the continent.
