Rising Stars offers ballers off-season hoops
Known for filling up the stat sheet for Unam Phoenix, Diandra Fossi is now taking that impact beyond the hardwood by hosting the Rising Stars Basketball Tournament as an off-season platform for Khomas Basketball Association (KBA) players.
Held under her Rising Stars brand, the inaugural 5x5 tournament is scheduled for 22 August at Deutsche Höhere Privatschule Windhoek (DHPS) in the capital.
The competition is open to men’s teams from within and outside the KBA, with players also allowed to form independent teams for a share of the N$10 000 prize purse.
The champions will receive N$7 000, while the runners-up will take home N$3 000. Individual prizes will also be awarded during the one-day event.
At the finals, the Most Valuable Player (MVP) will receive a brand-new pair of NBA star Ja Morant’s third signature basketball shoes, the Nike Ja 3s.
The one-on-one contest winner will receive an Elite basketball bag, while an official event T-shirt awaits the winner of the free-throw challenge.
Teams are limited to seven players and can register for N$2 000 through the link in the Rising Stars Instagram account bio. Only players registered with participating teams will be eligible to compete in the individual contests. Entries close on 17 August.
Event organiser Fossi confirmed to Sport Wrap yesterday that four teams had registered for the competition so far.
“We have also received interest from the Angolan, Chinese and Congolese basketball communities, who would like to challenge the Namibian community for top spots and bragging rights,” she said.
Beyond her playing role
The Unam Phoenix all-rounder is no stranger to contributing to basketball beyond her playing role.
The Cameroonian, who said she enjoyed coaching boys’ and girls’ U16 teams in her home country, made no secret of her desire to introduce Namibia’s basketball community to similar off-season activities.
“We always have off-season basketball competitions and camps back home. That’s where I took the idea [to host this tournament]. I want to represent my country and yours [Namibia],” she noted.
Fossi said the absence of regular competition outside the KBA season motivated her to establish the tournament.
“With the KBA being the only consistent league in the country, there are barely any activities for ballers after it goes on a break. I then decided to host this event as a platform for ballers to enjoy the game with less league pressure,” she said.
Women’s division planned
The inaugural edition will cater only to men’s teams, but Fossi plans to introduce a women’s division in future. She said the first tournament would serve as a pilot, with the intention of making it an annual event.
“Hopefully, we can include women in next year’s edition. As a woman myself, I would love to promote women’s basketball!”
Fossi said the name Rising Stars was inspired by the limited variety of basketball events in Windhoek, with “rising” representing growth, vertical leaps and climbing through the ranks of the sport.
“It boosts players’ confidence and, to me, the name is quite appealing. I hope to assist in creating a bigger basketball community, promote healthy competition and increase the love of the game.
“It’s not just basketball. It’s also about having fun,” Fossi said.
She added that spectators can expect competitive basketball, independently formed teams and players seeking to stand out on the court.
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