Assistant Coach Hamchetou Maiga Ba (Mali)
30/04/2020
Julio Chitunda's African Message
to read

Why so few female head coaches in Africa women's basketball?

LEEDS (Julio Chitunda's African Message) - Natosha Cummings-Price made history last year by becoming the first female head coach at the helm of a senior national team in Africa women's basketball, but what prevents others from doing the same?

The American, who has a long history with the Erie Community College women's basketball, led Cameroon to a Tenth-Place finish in the 12-team FIBA Women's AfroBasket in Dakar, where four teams had female assistant coaches, including Maria Costa (Cape Verde), Deolinda Ngulela (Mozambique), Shola Ogunade Shomala (Nigeria) and Khardiata Sourangue Diop (Senegal).

Five men won the last eight FIBA Women's AfroBasket, namely Otis Hugely Jr. (Nigeria/2019), Sam Vincent (Nigeria/2017), Moustapha Gaye (Senegal 2009/2015), Anibal Moreira (Angola 2011/2013) and Jose Ruiz (Mali/2007).

Natosha Cummings-Price (Cameroon)

Men still dominate coaching when it comes to women's basketball in Africa although there's been a growing number of female assistant coaches.

Former FIBA Women's AfroBasket MVP Hamchetou Maiga Ba (main photo) served as Mali assistant coach at the 2015 edition of the African Championship. Nigerian Ndidi Madu has been part of her country's coaching staff and former Angolan international Jaqueline Francisco held an assistant coach post to her national team.

Why so few female head coaches in Africa women's basketball?

"If you know the game, you’re always accepted. If you don’t know the game, it’s all about your knowledge of the game. It shouldn’t matter if you’re a male or a female," NBA superstar LeBron James once said. 

A number of women have coached their  countries’ youth national teams, but that’s where their coaching ambition ends.

Zumrati Ali Manvita coached Uganda at 2018 FIBA U18 Women's African Championship

So I invited two two-time Women's AfroBasket MVPs Aya Traore (Senegal) and Nacissela Mauricio (Angola) and former Mozambique point guard Deolinda Ngulela to shed light on the shortage of female head coaches in Africa's women's basketball. 

Aya Traore (Senegal)

Female coaches are a statistical minority in nearly all sports across the globe.

[Former international players] They don’t need to be introduced to African basketball. These ladies are pioneers. They have done a lot competing at the highest level for their respective national teams during their playing days. They have a fell for the game that they want to continue to participate in.

You don’t see too many women in those positions especially in Africa and I think they are definitely paving the way for young girls aspiring to be coaches some day.

Ndidi, Hamchetou, Deolinda and Jaqueline are great role models on and off the court in Africa.

Aya Traore (Senegal)

Just by being more visible in their role they may inspire not only girls but other women to pursue and emulate their achievements.

I think women need to be given the opportunity to show their coaching talent and thrive. It’s not about are women capable of doing the job; rather it’s about them having the opportunity to do the job and excel.  After all basketball is a genderless sport.

Nacissela Mauricio (Angola)

Unfortunately, players in Africa are only respected and admired when they are at the peak of their careers, but we start to see some former players taking key roles in basketball.

I have been lucky enough to have been coached by a woman - Jacqueline Francisco - She was my teammate and later became an assistant coach with the national team. It was a valuable experience as she knew my strengths on and off the court. 

Nacissela Mauricio (Angola)

I had a dream of coaching at top level and also the national team, but due to my health condition and injuries, I could not fulfil my dream. I retired from my playing career due to a herniated disc. I can not stand for long periods of time. 

In africa, players tend to train in poor conditions, and this has caused me some injuries throughout my career.  

Deolinda Ngulela (Mozambique)

This is one of my main objectives in life, and I feel that my country has been giving me this opportunity in recent years. It’s been proven that women have enough competence to do the job.

It’s necessary to recognise and value women’s competence in sports.  Usually men are preferred when it comes to filling those positions, and only rarely, women are considered to those posts.

Deolinda Ngulela (Mozambique)

I do not believe that the short number of female coaches has anything to do with inexperience or incompetence. Experience come opportunity. Women in recent years have invested in education to avoid being judged as incompetent.

Basketball coaching in Africa is still a male-dominated area. The gender inequality that persists in African cultures affects women’s progress in many fields such as employment and salary disparities, even though women have become more independent and hold their own space in society.

Coaching and sports management are still seen as a male occupation in some Africa societies.

It is the lack of women’s representativity in leading positions that reinforces the idea that coaching is male occupation. This has been one of the challenges in basketball, but in my opinion it shouldn’t women from shining. On contrary these challenges make women stronger.

Women bring a different type of leadership, which I believe is our main strength. Women tend to be caring, disciplined, hardworking, understanding when it comes to dealing with players’s concerns (issues). 

I have been dreaming about this moment. It will be a massive win for women in basketball in Africa if some of us get to become the head coach. I still believe that the biggest win will be liberated from the male-dominated mentality.

Julio Chitunda
FIBA

FIBA's columnists write on a wide range of topics relating to basketball that are of interest to them. The opinions they express are their own and in no way reflect those of FIBA.

FIBA takes no responsibility and gives no guarantees, warranties or representations, implied or otherwise, for the content or accuracy of the content and opinion expressed in the above article

Julio Chitunda

Julio Chitunda

Julio Chitunda, a University of Sheffield alumni and former semi-professional player, has worked for a number of Portuguese media outlets as well as The Press Association and covered international basketball for over a decade. Through his column, he offers an insight into basketball on the world's second biggest continent.