ExxonMobil and NBA Africa have launched a new Jr. NBA league in Maputo, Mozambique that will be operated by the Clarisse Machanguana Foundation (CMF), an organization founded by former WNBA player and Mozambique basketball legend Clarisse Machanguana that empowers Mozambiquan youth through sport, education and health.
The new Jr. NBA league, which features 30 boys’ and girls’ teams for youth ages 16 and under, tipped off its inaugural season on Saturday at Escola Portuguesa de Moçambique in Maputo, with Machanguana and 2009 NBA champion Trevor Ariza in attendance. The league, which will reach more than 8,000 students this year, will play regular-season games through August and culminate with the playoffs and finals in September.
The league will also include all-girls basketball clinics as part of the NBA’s Her Time to Play program, which provides opportunities for girls and women to play basketball and pursue careers in coaching and athletic leadership, as well as educational STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) sessions for boys and girls.
“ExxonMobil is committed to the advancement and development of kids through STEM education,” said General Manager for ExxonMobil Mozambique, Arne Gibbs. “This program will bring together passion for sports while promoting health and the importance of STEM education to empower our youth.”
“Building on the success of our community programs, we are delighted to work with NBA Africa and ExxonMobil for the advancement of youth through basketball, life skills and STEM,” said Machanguana. “This program is an opportunity to create inspiring champions, to become an agent of change, empowered to make healthy and informed decisions.”
“We are proud to collaborate with ExxonMobil and the Clarisse Machanguana Foundation to teach basketball and life skills that will help youth in Mozambique develop as players and leaders,” said NBA Africa Head of Basketball Operations Franck Traore. “This new Jr. NBA league will build on Mozambique’s proud basketball tradition and make the game more accessible to youth in the local community.”