Men's Basketball Will Embark On African Tour In 2008
Nov 1 | Men's Basketball
Nov. 1, 2007
DALLAS (SMU) --- The SMU men's basketball team will embark on a 15-day basketball trip to Africa from May 25 to June 8, 2008. The once-in-a-lifetime opportunity will include a safari as well as tours of Johannesburg and Cape Town, South Africa, and Dakar, Senegal. The Mustangs in partnership with Adidas will perform coaching and skills clinics in each city. The Ponies will also play exhibition games at each site. The games include a matchup against the Senegalese national team.
"This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for our student-athletes," says SMU head coach Matt Doherty. "We have been planning it quietly for more than a year now, and it is exciting to see it become a reality. The fact that we have two players from Africa, only makes it all the more appealing. While it will certainly benefit our team to face international competition, I am more excited about the cultural and social experience. While teams do tours to Europe, Australia, the Caribbean, and Canada on a regular basis, going to Africa is a unique opportunity. The exposure on an international level for SMU, our program, and our student-athletes is priceless."
The trip begins with four days in Dakar, Senegal, where the Mustangs will play a three-game round-robin tournament against three national teams. The staff and student-athletes will have a coaching clinic and basketball camp for kids while in Dakar. The team will also take a day-trip to St. Louis, Senegal, the hometown of current Mustangs Bamba Fall and Papa Dia.
Fall had the honor of playing for the Senegalese national team in the 2007 African Games, an Olympic qualifying event held in Angola. He also played for Senegal in the 2007 Global Games held at Moody Coliseum on SMU's campus as the team was finalizing its roster for the African Championships. The 7-1 center was the youngest member of the national team. Two Senegal natives are currently in the NBA; DeSagana Diop (Dallas Mavericks) and Pape Sow (Toronto Raptors).
"It is very exciting that we will be visiting Senegal and South Africa," says Fall. "It will be a great learning experience for our team and the people we meet. Obviously, I am looking forward to showing my teammates around my home city of St. Louis."
The Mustangs will then head to South Africa to spend five days in Johannesburg followed by five days in Cape Town. The Ponies will have the opportunity to play a pair of exhibition games in each city that may be telecast on South African TV. SMU has formed a partnership with the NBA's Basketball Without Borders, headquartered in Johannesburg, to be part of a coaching and skills clinic at each stop in South Africa.
The Mustangs and Adidas will hold basketball instructional clinics and coaching clinics in each city. SMU coaches and student-athletes will provide instruction while Adidas will supply basketballs and apparel. This will also begin a coaches exchange program that will provide an opportunity for instructors to come to Dallas and work with the SMU men's basketball program.
"I am also excited at the opportunity to conduct basketball clinics in Dakar, Johannesburg, and Cape Town," explains Doherty. "It is a great way for SMU and Adidas to partner in an endeavor that will benefit all parties involved. The coaches clinics will also be helpful. Any time you can exchange ideas with other coaches, it is a positive for all parties. I believe that this will eventually result in some of the coaches from Senegal and South Africa coming to Dallas to observe our program in the future and continue the exchange of ideas."
This opportunity trip will also serve to build life skills and broaden the horizons of the student-athletes through exposure to new cultures. The team will tour historical and cultural landmarks to maximize the academic value of the trip.
"I have not been back to Senegal since I came to the United States in 2004," says Dia. "It will be good to see family and friends again. The fact that the experience will be with my teammates makes it better as my family will be able to connect with my life at SMU and my teammates will be able to connect with my life before I came to the United States."
2008 SMU Men's Basketball African Tour: - May 26-30: Dakar, Senegal - May 30-June 3: Johannesburg, South Africa - June 4-7: Cape Town, South Africa
