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Momentum Sports Africa and Force One invite young basketballers aged 12-17 to develop their skills, basketball IQ and professional mindset ahead of future talent identification.

Momentum Sports Africa, in partnership with Force One, has announced the second edition of the Solo D Signature Basketball Camp, a structured basketball development programme designed to prepare the next generation of Kenyan basketball talent for higher levels of competition.

The camp will take place at Parklands Sports Club, Nairobi, across two weeks: 16-20 November 2026 and 23-27 November 2026, running daily from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Young basketballers aged 12-17 can register for either week or both weeks at a participation fee of Ksh17,500 per week.

Led by professional basketball player and two-time Basketball Africa League (BAL) champion Souleyman “Solo D” Diabate, the programme combines elite basketball experience, international coaching expertise and mentorship to help young athletes strengthen their game and better understand what it takes to progress in competitive basketball.

“Talent alone is not enough; young athletes need the right preparation, guidance and support to realise their potential.” This principle underpins the camp’s approach to developing players both on and off the court.

Beyond technical basketball training, participants will work on ball handling, shooting, passing, footwork, defensive positioning, game awareness and decision-making. The programme also incorporates sports nutrition and sports psychology, helping players understand the importance of healthy performance habits, focus, confidence, resilience and mental readiness.

Diabate’s involvement brings participants closer to the experience and mindset of professional basketball. Through mentorship, young players will have the opportunity to learn about discipline, teamwork, consistency, coachability and the commitment required to compete at higher levels.

The initiative reflects Momentum Sports Africa’s broader commitment to building a stronger and more sustainable sports ecosystem in Africa through athlete development, quality coaching, performance education and access to structured progression pathways.

The Solo D Signature Basketball Camp forms the foundation of a wider player-development pathway connecting preparation to upcoming Talent Identification (ID) Camps and, subsequently, a Showcase designed to provide a platform for talent exposure.

Through this approach, participants can strengthen their fundamentals and improve their readiness before entering more demanding evaluation and competitive environments. The pathway recognises that having talent is important, but being prepared to demonstrate that talent is equally essential.

Participation in the camp does not guarantee selection, scholarships, recruitment or placement. Instead, the programme seeks to equip young athletes with stronger skills, better habits and a clearer understanding of the work required to pursue future opportunities in basketball.

At Ksh17,500 per week, the camp fee covers structured basketball training with international coaches, full-day meals, sports nutrition education, sports psychology sessions and exclusive Solo D camp souvenirs.

By combining these elements, the programme offers families a structured development experience that extends beyond court sessions, supporting the technical, mental and lifestyle foundations young players need as they pursue their sporting ambitions.

Parents and guardians of aspiring basketballers aged 12-17 are invited to register their children for either or both camp weeks. Register online at: https://events.msa.co.ke/apply?event=solo-d-2

Kenyan youngsters Faith Cherotich Rono and Abigael Chepkurui are hoping to strike gold at the Youth Olympics and their bid is inspired by a recent bad experience.

When the athletics schedule guns off at the 2026 Youth Olympics in Dakar, Kenyans will be expecting medals and the responsibility of doing that is on seven youngsters.

Athletics is the only sport that has brought medals for Kenya at the Youth Olympics, having won 15 (eight gold, three silver, and four bronze) in the previous three editions of the games.

In Dakar, few will bet against that trend continuing even if Kenya has one of the biggest delegations, having selected 53 athletes.

Among them are youngsters Faith Cherotich Rono and Abigael Chepkurui who will be flying Kenya’s flag in the 3000m and 1500m respectively.

They head into the games with experience of running at international level as Rono featured in the 2026 World U20 Championships in Eugene, Oregon in August.

In Oregon, the 16-year-old Grande 9 pupil at Katet Comprehensive School Londiani in Kericho finished 10th and she says while she did not make the podium, she left with lessons which she hopes to use to good effect in Dakar.

“In Oregon, the weather was a challenge,” Rono said, recalling the summer heat that affected her.

In Dakar, the weather will similarly be humid but Rono says she has prepared well for what awaits her in Senegal.

“I have received enough experience to beat the odds in Dakar,” she added. “I have no fear anymore because when I got to Oregon, I met other athletes and kind of had that stage fright. That fear is now gone and I am ready to fly Kenya’s flag,” said Rono, who finished third in the U20 race at this year’s Chepsaita Cross-Country Run.

Rono and Chepkurui are based at Kericho’s Lemotit Athletics Camp under coach Paul Kimei and he is confident that his athletes will bring medals from Dakar.

“I have high expectations because they have prepared well,” said Kimei. “When Faith went to Oregon, it was the first time and after she returned, we sat down and she explained what went wrong.”

Kimei says he has corrected the mistakes of Oregon and believes the world will see the best of Rono and her teammates at the Youth Olympics.