Maputo, Mozambique, witnessed the launch of a new Jr. NBA league on Saturday, a collaborative effort between ExxonMobil and NBA Africa, operated by the Clarisse Machanguana Foundation (CMF).
The foundation, established by Mozambique’s basketball icon Clarisse Machanguana, aims to uplift the nation’s youth through sports, education, and health initiatives.
The inaugural season of the league, featuring 30 teams of boys and girls under 16, commenced at Escola Portuguesa de Moçambique with Machanguana and NBA champion Trevor Ariza marking the occasion. The league is set to impact over 8,000 students this year, with the season extending through August and concluding with playoffs and finals in September.
A significant aspect of the league is the inclusion of basketball clinics exclusively for girls, under the NBA’s Her Time to Play initiative. This program is designed to encourage female participation in basketball and foster career opportunities in coaching and sports leadership. Additionally, the league will host educational sessions focusing on STEM subjects for all participants.
Arne Gibbs, ExxonMobil Mozambique’s General Manager, emphasized the company’s dedication to fostering children’s development through STEM education. He highlighted the program’s dual focus on nurturing a passion for sports and underscoring the value of STEM learning for empowering the youth.
Machanguana expressed her enthusiasm for the partnership with NBA Africa and ExxonMobil, viewing it as a platform to inspire future champions and agents of change who are well-informed and health-conscious.
NBA Africa’s Head of Basketball Operations, Franck Traore, also shared his pride in the collaboration, which aims to impart basketball and life skills to Mozambican youth, enhancing their growth as individuals and leaders. The Jr. NBA league aspires to enrich Mozambique’s robust basketball heritage and broaden the sport’s reach within the community.
About ExxonMobil
ExxonMobil stands as a global leader in the oil and gas industry, leveraging technology and innovation to address the escalating energy demands worldwide.
The ExxonMobil Foundation, the company’s philanthropic branch in the U.S., engages in various initiatives globally, with a strategic emphasis on STEM education.
In Mozambique, ExxonMobil is a key stakeholder in Area 4, spearheading the construction and management of upcoming natural gas liquefaction plants.
About NBA Africa
NBA Africa, an NBA affiliate, strives to galvanize people globally through basketball. The organization oversees NBA operations in Africa, including the Basketball Africa League (BAL), and has established offices across the continent.
Since its African headquarters opened in Johannesburg in 2010, the NBA has concentrated on expanding basketball access and the NBA’s presence in Africa through various developmental and social initiatives.
NBA broadcasts and content are accessible in all 54 African nations, and the NBA has successfully hosted exhibition games on the continent. The BAL, a FIBA and NBA Africa collaboration, is a professional league featuring 12 African club teams and commenced its fourth season in March 2024.
About Clarisse Machanguana Foundation
The CMF, a Mozambican entity with U.S. nonprofit status, endeavors to nurture a generation of empowered women leaders through education, sports, and community engagement.
Operating nationwide, CMF develops educational programs rooted in sports to promote youth development, offering a secure environment for play, learning, and the acquisition of life skills, thereby enabling informed and beneficial choices for individuals and their communities.
