M-PESA in partnership with the Jr. NBA, today hosted the top 100 junior basketball players (50 boys and 50 girls) for an Elite Basketball Camp at the Aga Khan Academy in Mombasa. The camp is part of the build-up to the Jr. NBA National Finals, set to take place at the same venue this coming Thursday to Friday.
The Elite Camp focused on nurturing the talent and growth of the young athletes through skills development sessions, scrimmages, 5v5 tournaments, and scouting activities. The 100 players were selected from regional tournaments held across four major cities: Nairobi, Mombasa, Eldoret, and Kisumu.
Speaking at the camp, Wholly Kawemba, Umoja Junior School, Changamwe, coach said: “This is a great opportunity for my players ahead of the national finals. Some of the skills we have enhanced today like dribbling are essential, and we are definitely going to apply them as we compete in the finals.”
“At Safaricom, our purpose is simple, to transform lives. Through our partnership with Jr. NBA Africa, we have created a space where sports meets opportunity and play meets purpose. We are not just supporting the sport; we are also equipping our youth with financial skills through M-PESA Go. By empowering young people with practical financial literacy, M-PESA Go naturally complements the Jr. NBA Program. Greatness isn’t just what you achieve on the court, it’s how you apply what you have learned in every part of your life,” said Esther Waititu, Chief Financial Services Officer.
Commenting on the tournament, Michael Finley, NBA Africa – Kenya Country Lead said,
“So far, so good, the regional tournaments were a great success across the four regions. We promised, and we delivered. Today, together with M-PESA, we hosted the top 100 young players for an Elite Camp to enhance their skills development. We also had scouts on the ground, and I believe some incredible talent has been identified.”
The first edition of the M-PESA Jr.NBA engaged with more than 10,000 boys and girls through games, NBA Fit clinics and life-skill seminars on financial literacy by M-PESA Go.
The Jr. NBA National Finals will feature 16 teams (8 boys and 8 girls’ teams) competing on Thursday and Friday at the Aga Khan Academy, Mombasa.
