OUAGADOUGOU — A basketball holiday camp hosted by AS SONABHY concluded on July 20 in Ouagadougou, marking a successful month of sports education and youth development. The camp, which took place at the club’s multi-sport arena, drew around a hundred young participants who were immersed in the essentials of basketball.
According to Burkina Information Agency, president of the basketball section at AS SONABHY, the camp is part of the club’s ongoing commitment to fostering hand sports in Burkina Faso and providing a constructive outlet for the youth during their school holidays. “This allows young people to come together and avoid certain social ills. It is an educational continuity for AS SONABHY in the sense that we detect future players to strengthen our squad,” she explained. Throughout the month, participants aged between 4 and 17 honed skills like dribbling, passing, and shooting.
The camp also served as a scouting ground for future talent. Harouna Ouédraogo, coach of the National Hydrocarbons juniors and cadets, noted the importance of the camp for team development, especially after a two-year hiatus had affected their player management. “The president had the good idea of organizing a camp to allow us to increase our numbers,” Ouédraogo said.
Further supporting the camp’s goals, Oboulbiga Rodrigue, director of human resources for the National Hydrocarbons, highlighted the broader benefits of sports engagement. “For many years, SONABHY has been actively engaged in the promotion of hand sports, recognizing their importance in the physical and mental development of our youth,” he stated.
The camp’s impact was evident as several potential players were identified, with plans to integrate them into AS SONABHY’s teams. Boukaré Ouédraogo, the economic operator who sponsored the camp, expressed his admiration for the initiative and planned future involvement with his children, advocating for more parents to participate.
The event also garnered praise from Souleymane Yaméogo, president of the Burkinabè Basketball Federation (FEBBA) and former president of AS SONABHY, who commended the foresight and leadership of Traoré/Ouédraogo. He committed to supporting similar initiatives with resources and expertise.