Giants of Africa (GOA), di youth basketball non-profit wey NBA executive Masai Ujiri start, show for Europe for di first time dis week for di adidas x ALBA Next Up Women's Basketball Tournament for Berlin. Di four-day event, wey dey run from 3-6 September, bring eight teams together, and GOA side dey face squads from Australia, Hungary, Indonesia, Spain, Germany, Sweden and di Czech Republic.
GOA delegation get eight young women wey come from five African countries — Ethiopia, Gabon, Nigeria, Senegal and Tanzania — all of dem don pass through di organisation annual festival programme before, and dem dey play together as one combined national-alumni side. Melissa Diawakana from di Democratic Republic of Congo dey lead di team as head coach, with Nigerian Adetokunbo Ijomah as assistant coach and Gabonese coach Geraldine Robert also dey part of di technical staff.
Organisers talk say di trip na part of GOA Women's Empowerment Programme, wey dem describe as one main pillar of dia gender-equity work. Some players dey make dia first trip comot from Africa. Di squad go play three group-stage matches for di first three days before one final day of cross-games, one award ceremony and trophy presentation, and dem expect to attend FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup matches wey go happen for Berlin during di same period.
Dem found Giants of Africa for 2003, and di organisation dey run basketball court builds, camps, clinics and coaching programmes across di continent. Dem name Ujiri NBA Executive of di Year for 2013 and e be di architect of Toronto Raptors 2019 championship, and recently dem appoint am as Team President and Alternate Governor of Dallas Mavericks.
