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The Governor of Mombasa Hassan Ali Joho and National Basketball Association (NBA) agent, J.R. Hensley, visited the Aga Khan Academy Mombasa to meet the school’s girls and boys basketball teams in light of their numerous high-level achievements, most notably in the National Games and with the Giants of Africa basketball camps.

After watching the teams play, Joho and Hensley spoke to the teams about the importance of being active in sports while also striving to perform well in academics.

Students shared their experiences in the game, which has helped some of them build various life skills such as self-esteem, adaptability, perseverance and commitment in life and education.

“The Aga Khan Academy Mombasa not only wants us to be basketballers and enjoy our talent, but to support our community around us,” said Kindi Mchuwa, one of the best players to come out of this set up.

“For us, basketball is not only a sport, but it’s a way of life.” he added.
Hassan Joho, who is working to create sports and arts-based opportunities for talented youth in his county, was impressed by the students’ commitment in forging a balance between their personal and academic lives, as well as using their talent in basketball to make a difference in the island.

The Aga Khan Academies are changing lives,” Joho said. “In my opinion, there cannot be a better place than here at the Aga Khan Academy Mombasa. You have led the way, and now it is for us and our institutions to emulate you. It’s a privilege to come to such a private school and enjoy such facilities. It is our responsibility, those that are in leadership, those that are running institutions, such as these, to put an environment for such opportunity. This community program that you’re running, i can’t thank you enough.”

The schools’ basketball team are four-time Coast champions. Most recently, six students from the Mombasa academy were selected to attend a Giants of Africa basketball camp at the International School of Tanganyika in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

The camp consisted of 100 under-17 players from five different countries.
Jimnah Kimani is the coach of the boy’s team.

“Our school team has come a long way and being recognised by the County government and other institutions, such as the Giants of Africa, is a great honour,” said Jimnah,
“We look forward to seeing this partnership between the Academy, the County government and the Mombasa community strengthen more in the years to come.”

The Giants of Africa (GOA) was founded in 2003 by Masai Ujiri, who is the president of the Toronto Raptors (2019 NBA champions), with the mission of using basketball as a way of educating and enhancing the lives of young Africans by providing quality facilities, gear and coaches with the goal of growing the game within Africa.

They create awareness and support for underprivileged children and young adults through their camps, which place emphasis on hard work, accountability, honest living and positivity. They strive to create opportunity not only as a player, but in other related areas, urging African youth to dream big