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The Basketball Africa League (BAL) (BAL.NBA.com) today announced the launch of "BAL Future Pros", a new program to help professionals across Africa to pursue their careers within the sports ecosystem and develop their skills, network and experience in the sports industry. 2011 NBA champion and BAL Ambassador Ian Mahinmi (France; ties to Benin) will serve as the program's ambassador.
"BAL Future Pros" will be implemented in the league's headquarters in Dakar, Senegal, from February to May, and remotely in Kigali, Rwanda from March to June in conjunction with the BAL Playoffs and Finals. The program will offer 20 successful candidates the opportunity to join one of the BAL's 10 departments: marketing, social responsibility and player programs, public relations and communications, event management, logistics, business development, marketing partnerships, digital production, merchandizing, and travel and hospitality.
The program is targeting individuals with at least two years of work experience, in possession of a university degree and eligible to work and reside in either Senegal or Rwanda. Candidates who meet these criteria are encouraged to apply here (https://apo-opa.co/3t9l92w).
"Sports, and the game of basketball in particular, are a powerful tool to empower the next generation of leaders through job creation," said BAL President Amadou Gallo Fall. "The "BAL Future Pros" program will provide professionals in Senegal and Rwanda with development opportunities beyond the lines of the court, as we continue to use the transformative power of basketball to inspire, empower and connect people across Africa."
"I am proud to be part of this initiative and help mentor individuals across the continent, "said Mahinmi. "The BAL is about to enter its fourth season and has continued to grow and expand its footprint and expertise in the countries it operates in, hence this initiative will provide the successful candidates with a tremendous amount of experience that they will be able to build on and utilize in the future as they continue to grow their professional careers."
The fourth BAL season will tip off in March 2024 in South Africa. It will feature the top 12 club teams from 12 African countries playing a record 48 games across four African countries – South Africa, Egypt, Senegal and Rwanda – over four months in 2024, marking the first BAL games in South Africa and the first time the league will play in four different countries.
Also, for the first time, the 12 teams will be divided into three conferences of four teams each. Each conference will play a 12-game group phase during which each team will face the other three teams in its conference twice. The inaugural Kalahari Conference group phase will take place in March, followed by the Nile Conference group phase in April and the Sahara Conference group phase in May. The top two teams from each conference and the top two third-place teams from across the three conferences will travel to Rwanda for four seeding games followed by an eight-game single-elimination Playoffs and Finals from May – June.
The BAL will announce the host cities, venues, dates and information about how to purchase tickets for the 2024 BAL season in the coming weeks. Fans can register their interest in tickets to games in all four markets at BAL.NBA.com.
