We shall pursue this development with a view to taking full advantage of the FIBA calendar” says head of the local basketball body Mahmud Qodah
By: Yusuf M Hasan
Somalilandsun- Somaliland is for the first time to feature prominently in all Federation of International Basketball Associations -FIBA national team competitions in the 2017-2011 calendars
In this context the Somaliland national basketball team shall apart from participation in all FIBA national teams competitions during this period but feature in Africa qualifiers to select the continent’s representative at the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 in China.
Similarly the Somaliland national basketball team participation shall be aired by StarTimes, Africa’s leading pay TV operator.
The Basketball’s world governing body awarded StarTimes exclusive free and pay transmission rights across all territories of Sub-Saharan Africa for its leading tournaments (with the exception of free rights in Angola and French pay rights in Francophone on non-exclusive basis) during a meeting in MIES, Switzerland on the 19th July 2017.
Star times was awarded exclusive media rights in Sub-Saharan Africa for the Federation of International Basketball Associations- FIBA national team competitions during the period 2017-2021, including the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 in China.
If the Somaliland basketball federation takes upon this very important acknowledgement from its parent World governing body then the yet to be recognized countries Basketball national team which has so far not taken part in the Aja airy to July competitions has the opportunity to participate in the FIBA calendar as in
• FIBA African Champions Cup Men and Women from 1st October 2017
• FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 African Qualifers from 24th Nov 2017- 25th Feb 2019
For full calendar visit http://www.fiba.com/calendar
While basketball is very popular for men in Somaliland whose teams participate in various national and regional tournaments, women competitors are constrained by the few clubs available SOSCA being the main one in the country
Read: FIBA Official Pays Visit to Somaliland
According to the chairman of the Somaliland Basketball Federation Mahmoud Qodah the acknowledgement of the country by FIBA and subsequent inclusion into the world governing body’s calendar as well as in the Startimes schedule for the calendar stretching from 2017 to 2012 is great news.
“We shall pursue this development with a view to taking full advantage of the FIBA calendar” said Qodah adding that the regular lumping of Somaliland and Somalia by the international community has been a major setback to local Basketball activities and development
If Somaliland works towards this opportunity major benefits to be accrued are not only participation in competitions but access to training , equipment and related funding availed nationals federations by FIBA as well as the golden opportunity of hosting tournaments at home
But the easiest part shall be compliance with anti-doping rules says Mahmud Qodah since hard and soft drugs are unavailable in Somaliland
For the youthful Somaliland basketball chief this news comes as his federation is in the process of modernizing Tima’ade basketball stadium in Hargeisa to a world class venue at an estimated cost of over half a million dollars
StarTimes which is the leading digital TV operator in Africa, serves nearly 10 million subscribers through DTT and DTH platforms with 480 authorized channels.
Upon the deal Vincent Yu, StarTimes Media Division Chief Operating Officer, said: “We are so glad to offer the very best of national team basketball to our subscribers in Africa by having secured the broadcasting rights for the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 and all other leading events for the period 2017-2021. We are particularly excited to offer basketball fans in the region the chance to follow their favorite teams as they compete in the Qualifiers for the FIBA Basketball World Cup and the Continental Cups 2021.”
“This agreement is consistent with StarTimes’ mission and values to offer the best sport content, which has always been our priority. Our partnership with FIBA will clearly be a turning point for African basketball fans.”
The deal also t dived similar accolade from FIBA Secretary General and International Olympic Committee (IOC) Member Patrick Baumann said: “Thanks to this partnership with StarTimes, the extent of our reach across Sub-Saharan African is bigger than ever before and we can cater to the millions of enthusiastic basketball fans. Having the very best of our national team competitions broadcast in the region will go a long way towards growing our sport’s popularity and participation.”
The agreement is in effect for the following countries and territories: Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Republic of Congo-Brazzaville, Democratic Republic of Congo, Cote d’Ivoire, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius (excluding French language), Mayotte (excluding French language), Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Reunion (excluding French language), Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia (including Somaliland), Socotra, South Africa, South Sudan, St. Helena and Ascension, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania (United Republic of), Togo, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
The agreement covers the following events: FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 and its Qualifiers; FIBA AfroBasket 2017; FIBA Women’s AfroBasket 2017; FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournaments for Men and Women 2020; FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2018; all remaining FIBA Continental Cups 2017 (FIBA AmeriCup, FIBA Asia Cup, FIBA EuroBasket, FIBA Women’s AmeriCup and FIBA Women’s Asia Cup); all FIBA Continental Cups 2021 and their Qualifiers; all FIBA Women’s Continental Cups in 2019 and 2021; FIBA U19 Basketball World Cups for Men and Women in 2019 and 2021; and FIBA U17 Basketball World Cups for Men and Women in 2018 and 2020.
According to FIBA The agreement was brokered by FIBA Media, the strategic partnership between FIBA and Perform, which continues to secure multi-year agreements related to FIBA’s new calendar of events.
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About FIBA
FIBA (fiba.basketball) – the world governing body for basketball – is an independent association formed by 213 National Basketball Federations throughout the world. It is recognised as the sole competent authority in basketball by the International Olympic Committee (IOC)
