NBA Africa and Quest Water Global, one water solutions company, don announce on Monday one multiyear collaboration to build or renovate 55 full-size and 3-on-3 basketball courts across Democratic Republic of the Congo by 2030 to honour late Dikembe Mutombo. The project dey support NBA Africa bigger commitment to build or renovate 1,000 courts across the continent for the next decade, with Quest Water Global dey serve as the league Official Infrastructure Development Partner for DRC.
The collaboration don tip off on Tuesday, September 29 with the unveiling of one new outdoor court for Cercle Onatra for Kinshasa, where Mutombo start im basketball journey with Basketball Club Onatra before e comot go United States. The court get im iconic No. 55 jersey number for centre court and dem set am to serve thousands of local youth every year. NBA Africa mark the unveiling with one Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA clinic for 80 local coaches. Dem dey plan second court for Mutombo hometown of Mbuji-Mayi for the next weeks.
Mutombo, four-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year and Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer, serve as the NBA first global ambassador after e retire from the league for 2009. E be eight-time All-Star, lead the NBA for blocked shots three times and dem induct am into the Hall of Fame for 2015. E also found the Biamba Marie Mutombo Hospital for Kinshasa, wey dem open am to the public for 2007.
Dikembe believe say basketball na one powerful tool to teach young people discipline, teamwork, resilience, leadership, and service to others.
Rose Mutombo tok.
