SHEFFIELD (Julio Chitunda's African Message) - 2015 should be declared the 'Year of Basketball in Africa'.

From the southernmost country on the continent - South Africa - to its northernmost - Tunisia - basketball is coming to the second largest continent.

In North Africa, 16 African national teams will compete at this year's edition of AfroBasket - the most prestigious basketball tournament in Africa - in the Tunisian cities of Nabeul and Tunis from 19 to 30 August, trying to secure automatic qualification for next year's Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

Later on, the 12 best female African national teams will gather in West Africa - in Yaounde, Cameroon - from 24 September to 3 October to compete in AfroBasket Women 2015 for a place in the Rio Games as well.

As if that wasn't enough, last week's announcement of the very first NBA Game on Africa soil scheduled to take place on 1 August in Johannesburg, South Africa, is another indication of basketball's growing popularity in Africa.

For the very first time, fans from across the African continent will have a chance to watch live some of the best performers playing the game at Ellis Park arena in Johannesburg.

Great Britain international and South-Sudan native Luol Deng of the Miami Heat was named the captain of Team Africa, which will consist of NBA players born in Africa as well as a number of second generation Africans, while Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul will captain Team World.

So far, no more players have been confirmed yet for the exhibition showdown, but reports suggest the game has generated a lot interest among NBA players, some of whom have never set a foot on the continent.

The event may not have the same magnitude as the legendary 'Rumble in the Jungle' boxing match between legends Muhammad Ali (formerly Cassius Clay) and George Foreman in Kinshasa in 1974, but judging from worldwide fans reactions, the significance of the game is as valued and it could be a game-changer in the history of African basketball.

In an interview with SuperSport's Emeka Enyadike, Deng said: "The talent is there in Africa and we have been really amazed by the talent, passion and commitment.

"When I started playing basketball with my older brothers, I was determined to compete and dream big and you see that in a lot of these kids.

"It's a proud moment for us as Africans in the NBA and am sure for most Africans back home and in the diaspora and the players are looking forward to representing the continent."

Although football remains the number one sport in most parts of Africa, basketball continues to attract more and more followers each year.

In the past decade, community basketball programmes such as the Basketball without Borders (BWB) Africa - a joint organisation between FIBA and the NBA - has become a place-to-be for players under the age of 19. The outreach event has played a significant part in the careers of Senegale Gorgui Dieng and Cameroon's Luc Mbah a Moute, who now play in the NBA.

Six Africans, including, Deng, Dieng, Mbah a Moute, Festus Ezeli (Nigeria), Spain international Serge Ibaka (a native of the Republic of Congo) and Bismack Biyombo (Democratic Republic of Congo) played in the 2014-15 NBA season, and that figure might soar considering the growing interest of Africans in the sport.

For Paul, who will be visiting the African continent for the first time, it is about "contributing to the growth of the game on and off the court".

"I look forward to representing Team World in the first NBA game in Africa," the Clippers guard said.

Unless proven otherwise, 2015 is the Year of Basketball in Africa to me.

Julio Chitunda

FIBA

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