And it finally came. The most anticipated weekend in the history of basketball in Africa – the NBA Africa Game 2015. Econet Group, Econet Telecom Lesotho’s parent, was a key sponsor of this epic event. Held at the Ellis Park Sports arena in Johannesburg, the world’s best in the NBA (National Basketball Association) convened to play for the first time on African soil.

Team Africa comprised players born in Africa and second-generation African players, played against Team World, comprised of NBA players from other continents. The excitement of the crowd was overwhelming, almost tangible. All eyes on the all stars on the basketball court.  Gracing the event were the two NBA legends of African origin, Dikembe Mutombo and Hakeem Olajuwon who took part in one of the quarters of the game. The crowd roared with cheers as these two sons of Africa hit the play ground to shoot a couple of hoops. This was a memorable event for those who were in the arena watching the game live, a true experience of the NBA game standard. At the end of the game the final score was 101-97 in favour of Team World.

Econet took the opportunity to invite Festus Ezeli, one of the NBA players and a member of the NBA Champions 2015 Golden State Warriors, to visit Lesotho last week after the game. Ezeli came to Lesotho as part of the community outreach program between Econet Group and the NBA. Another first for Lesotho, from Econet. He brought with him the championship trophy passionately known as Larry in the basketball fraternity.

Upon his arrival Ezeli conducted a courtesy visit to the Minister of Gender and Sports, Youth and Recreation. Then he ran coaching clinics for Lesotho Basketball Association (LBA) coaches and young players from 32 schools in the country. Later that evening he dined with the Minister, Econet staff members and customers and representatives from the LBA, the Lesotho Sports and Recreation Commission, the Lesotho National Olympic Committee and other stakeholders. To celebrate his visit, Econet donated basketball hoops, balls and cones to the LBA.  The following day, Ezeli was first taken by Econet to the Ministry of Hope, an orphanage home situated at Katlehong Maseru under the care of Ms ‘Mamonyane Mohale. The orphanage has been taking care of orphaned and vulnerable children (up to the age of 15) since 2010. It provides educational support, nutrition rehabilitation, medical services and psycho/social support for placed children, those relocated with relatives and some within their villages.

Econet’s Happy Blanket campaign has raised money to donate blankets this winter to orphanages across the country. On this visit, Econet donated 40 blankets to the children at the Ministry of Hope. Then to wrap up his trip to the Mountain Kingdom, Ezeli enjoyed a visit to the Thaba-Bosiu cultural village, where he was given a brief history of Lesotho and Basotho.

In line with Econet’s brand promise ‘inspired to change your world’, the theme of Ezeli’s visit was to inspire the youngsters of Lesotho to aim high and dream big, bigger than their current situations and circumstances.

His message to Basotho was “teamwork makes the dream work”.