GABORONE – The 1st edition of the IBF 3x3 Young Lions Cup is only 10 days away. The event is one of many ‘basketball for good’ initiatives of FIBA’s foundation. Sixteen U19 teams who won their National Qualifiers in Botswana, Burundi, Comoros, Djibouti, Mauritius, Namibia, Seychelles, Swaziland and Zimbabwe will be traveling to Gaborone Botswana to compete in the Young Lions Cup final on the 2nd and 3rd of December.

The Young Lions Cup is a great opportunity to play international 3x3 basketball, but moreover, it is a great opportunity to encourage new leaders. The International Basketball Foundation’s mission is to use the power of basketball as a catalyst to initiate positive change and help build stronger communities. We believe that the youths can become ambassadors for our mission. With this in mind, all the players present will take part in a leadership workshop led by Reach Sports.

The workshop's aim is to inspire youth leaders by providing them with the skills and support needed to use basketball as a tool for development in their own communities. 
Furthermore, the players will discover the play3x3 platform to be able to create 3x3 tournaments in their own respective countries and regions. They will also learn the importance of anti-doping. With the leadership workshop starting on World Aids Day, we also hope to raise awareness of HIV.

Mthoko Madonda, the former captain of the South African Basketball national team who will be leading the workshop said, "we are excited to be working with the IBF once again. We know firsthand the incredible power of basketball to shift paradigm and transform lives. We are looking forward to once again working with the IBF to promote Basketball for Good and to inspire Africa's future leaders."

The final tournament will take place at Molapo Piazza in Gaborone, Botswana on the 2nd and 3rd of December.