While the Basketball Africa League, created by the all-powerful NBA, begins its third season in March, its leaders organized a detection course on Sunday 15 and Monday 16 January to recruit new players, in Noisy-le-Grand. , in the Paris region.
Pierre Vandriessche is 22 years old. He is French, but his mother comes from Rwanda, a country whose jersey he has already worn in competition. But today, he must convince clubs in the midst of very determined competitors. ” The intensity is quite high, it runs a lot, he observes. Seeing 30 pros who come from the best leagues in the world, frankly, I didn’t expect such a high standard. »
Already participating in the second season of the Basketball Africa League (BAL) last year, the basketball player hopes that a club will trust him again. But a new contract is not guaranteed to him. ” It is played on details because we all know how to play basketball, we all have qualities. I think it is also according to the research of each club “, he advances.
The program is loaded for this course called “Combine”. Over two days, the 30 contenders pass physical tests, but they also play matches, in front of club presidents who have responded to the invitation of this famous BAL, a League which, at the start of its third season, begins to settle on the mainland. ” The idea is to bring together players who came mostly from the United States and also players from the African diaspora, here, based in France, explains Amadou Fall, president of the Basketball Africa League. Twelve BAL teams came to assess its players. »
Paris, an obvious choice
The whole ecosystem of African basketball therefore came together in Paris. The French capital, an obvious choice. ” In Paris, because we are getting closer to the African diaspora. And also because the NBA is hosting a regular season game », continues Amadou Fall. Allusion to the meeting which will oppose this Thursday the Detroit Pistons to the Chicago Bulls, at the Accor Arena in Paris.
This relocated NBA game facilitates exchanges and collaborations between American and African leaders. ” Paris is an opportunity because it’s a bit like the center of Europe for African players, for the most part, and above all, there’s all the American expertise there, enthuses the secretary general of Fiba Africa, Alphonse Bilé. And that allows us to really organize this campaign in an interesting way. »
And everyone seems to find their account during this detection course. ” There is quality, that’s for sure ! There’s one or two that catch your eye remarks Touré Boubakari, president of the ABC of Abidjan, one of the twelve teams of the BAL. As for Pierre Vandriessche, he hopes that his two days will allow him to find the African parquet floors, which are increasingly attractive. ” African players, they are no longer going to play in Europe. It really gives a goal in their continent and frankly, I find it really incredible. »
For him, perhaps go to Dakar or Cairo, where the BAL teams will meet from March to start the third season of this ambitious competition.