Owino calls on FIBA to invest more in development projects

FIBA instructor and former Kenya Lionesses head coach Ronnie Owino has called on the continental basketball body FIBA Africa to invest more in coaches' development projects as that is a sure way to spur the sport's growth in the continent.

Owino was part of the coaching unit that was involved in this week's FIBA Africa Youth Camp held at Nyayo National Stadium from Monday 6 September through to 8 September, bringing together 33 boys and 13 girls from the East and Southern Africa region for a development camp 

This was the first of three elite camps for boys and girls under the age of 18, with the second camp beginning today, Friday 19 September, in Saly, Senegal with the third camp set for 15-19 September in Abidjan, Cote D'Ivoire. The camps are being conducted by twenty FIBA and NBA. 

"Being the first time FIBA Africa was involving girls in this programme, they were excited. We had 12 girls and from Kenya and one from Uganda. We had top-level coaches led by USA's under 16 national team coach Don Showalter and other experts and the participants benefitted immensely. There were intense drills and their game will not remain the same," said Owino. 

The instructor, however, believes the camps will do little to change Africa's story on the international level if no follow-up programmes are put in place. 

"More coaching clinics are needed. Of the more than 200 coaches we have in Kenya, only Five got the chance to be part of this first camp. To have more impact, more coaches need to be engaged and for longer so they can impact this knowledge to a bigger group of players. That said, it should also be an initiative for our coaches to push to get involved when such opportunities present themselves," added Owino.