A Kenyan business executive, Stella Waga, has recalled how her devotion to education prevented her from becoming a professional basketball player. She made the disclosure in an interview with Sports247 on the sidelines of the Year of Return Africa (YORA 2026) Summit & Expo at Westlands in Nairobi, Kenya.
Waga said her love for the game flourished during her school years until her parents insisted she prioritise her studies. "My dad was strict about education. My parents wanted education for me – as long as my grades were okay, my folks were happy with me. It was non-negotiable," she said.
Gender attitudes also played a part, Waga added, noting that "most people think basketball is for the boys." She recalled a chance encounter with a coach who spotted her physical build, offered mentorship and proposed a scholarship, but her father refused to support it.
"It was an appointment that ended before it even started, but I have no regrets about it. I'm also an intellectual and I am happy with what I am doing," Waga said. She explained that professional basketball "commercialises everything and takes away the passion you have for it."
Wednesday's sessions at the YORA 2026 summit focused on sporting efforts, endorsements and aspirations, with participants sharing experiences aimed at growing the sector across Africa.
