Sporting leagues across Africa making progress with gender equality

Gender equality making progress in African sport

JOHANNESBURG, March 19 (ANA) – Gender equality and gender-based violence (GBV) are massive issues on the African continent, and there are a number of sporting federations committed to making progress like the Basketball Africa League (BAL).

Earlier this month, the National Basketball Association (NBA) and BAL launched a number of initiatives to promote gender equality. The initiatives build on the NBA family’s collective efforts to advance equality and social justice in the United States.

In Africa, the NBA’s and the BAL’s efforts will focus on raising awareness of gender-based violence, supporting girls’ education and growing female participation in basketball at all levels.

The leagues will each use their individual platforms and resources to promote gender equality among fans, and collaborate with corporate and community partners on new programs and capacity-building initiatives that help minimise the gender gap across both leagues’ operations.

Additionally, the NBA and the BAL are seeking to work and partner with more African-owned enterprises across their business activities on the continent.

NBA Africa chief executive Victor Williams said: “Social responsibility has been an integral part of the NBA’s youth development efforts on the continent for more than three decades.

“Following the establishment of the NBA Foundation and the National Basketball Social Justice Coalition in the U.S. and building on our broader efforts to help create a more equal and just society, the NBA and the BAL each look forward to deepening their engagements with partners, community leaders and other stakeholders to advance gender equality and create a more inclusive economic environment in Africa.”

BAL president Amadou Gallo Fall said: “The Basketball Africa League is committed to fighting the stereotypes, prejudices and barriers that too often prevent women in Africa from realizing their dreams,” “These initiatives will help ensure that young girls and women across the continent have the opportunities and resources that will help them grow on the court and in life.”

Rugby Africa (RA), meanwhile, has promised to keep boosting women’s involvement in the game, especially when it comes to leadership.

On Wednesday, RA announced the awarding of two women rugby executive leadership scholarships. Peris Mukoko of Kenya and Abigail Mnikwa of Zimbabwe are the two recipients.

Rugby Africa said in a statement: “This amazing opportunity qualifies two women from Africa to join the remaining ten women from around the world, who will each receive a £10,000 scholarship for leadership development support for formal or informal education, conferences, forums, mentoring and best practice study tours.

“Each scholarship will be tailored to meet the professional development needs of the successful applicants.”

Women’s Rugby Advisory Committee Chairwoman Paula Lanco said: “Rugby is a Sport, Not a Gender’. As such my vision is to see the Africa women in rugby compete on the world stage. The Rugby Africa 2021 Women’s Executive Leadership Scholarships is one sterling tool for our women to step forward and surge forward in rugby. Peris and Abigail have started on a journey that will only catapult them into the fraternity.”

Also this week, new Confederation of African Football (Caf) president Patrice Motsepe promised to grow the women’s game.

“We want women’s football to be significantly growing and progressing in the period of my presidency,” said Motsepe.

However, Motsepe did not outline a specific plan for the women’s game but did allude to focussing on the major problems of the member associations under his control.

“Over the next nine to 12 months, I will be visiting every single one of the African nations. I will also have two more meetings this year with all the presidents [of Caf member associations] and we will talk about the urgent steps we need to take to improve the game on the continent.”

Last year, Caf announced the creation of a new African women’s Champions League. Though no actual dates have yet been released, the tournament is scheduled to be held in 2021. – African News Agency (ANA), Editing by Michael Sherman