The 2023 Invitational; A Quest for Impact. A conversation with Kwadjo McMartey
The maiden edition of the most coveted basketball tournament in 2023, the National Basketball Invitational (NBI) comes off on the 22nd and 23rd December 2023 at the Chinese Basketball Court, Tema. As the event coordinators prepare for the tournament, we caught up with the managing partner of Black Oak Athletics and founder of the National Basketball Invitational, Kwadjo McMartey, for a conversation on his vision for starting the tournament.
Kwadjo McMartey - Founder National Basketball Invitational & Managing Partner, Black Oak Athletics
Question: What is the National Basketball Invitational?
McMartey: The National Basketball Invitational is an annual two-day event that seeks to promote the spirit of competitiveness amongst elite teams with the focus of elevating player and fan experiences. Our desire is to usher in a new era. An era where basketball experiences are elevated for both the players and the fans. And as we prepare for the maiden edition, I’m pleased to announce that we have made plans to give all stakeholders especially the players an experience worth their while.
Question: There are tournaments happening in Ghana, what makes this different?
McMartey: Well, we appreciate their efforts, especially those who have had an early start since we are just joining the push. I’ve had conversations with most of them and their desire is to help develop the sport just as we have set out to. Truth is, they all agree that we need more tournaments and events to propel basketball in Ghana to the next level.
More importantly, we at Black Oak are on a slightly different mission. We are more focused on how we can use the game to build and support the local communities within Ghana and Africa. The vision is to use basketball to connect with communities where the need is greatest. Our interventions can encourage the youth to live healthy lives through the sport (United Nations SDG 3).
Each member of our team has a personal connection to basketball. As former players and/or passionate followers of the game, we have an understanding of the work that needs to be done to push the frontiers of our developmental agenda to achieve the desired output. However, the entire agenda is anchored in community impact - to use the game of basketball to help people. The game did a lot for me during my teenage years: it kept me out of trouble, my path crossed with lifelong friends and it created several learning and economic opportunities for me as well. I just want to create an even better experience and opportunities for others.
Question: Do you have any recent experience with basketball or sports administration?
McMartey: That will be when I was at the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration. When I got there we didn’t have a basketball team. I had played for the University of Ghana, Tema Youth Basketball Club, travelled with the junior national team and was still quite young at the time. So as restless as I was, I initiated an agenda to set up a basketball team. My former boss, Yaw Sakyi Afari had been contributing towards sports before I even arrived on campus so I sought advice, consulted broadly and decided to set up a Sports Club for Basketball and Soccer since we didn’t have a Sports Directorate at the time.
McMartey, captain of GIMPA basketball taking a free throw with teammate Jake Morrison (back) at the UPAC Championships
This was necessary to bring some structure when we made requests to management to represent the school. I must say that the Student Affairs Director, Mrs Appiah, was quite instrumental in that regard. Along with my friends, we mobilised a group of basketball enthusiasts that we knew on campus, engaged Sammy Anim Addo - manager to Asamoah Gyan, who was also then a student - for jersey sponsorship and that’s how we got GIMPA Basketball to participate in its first Universities, Polytechnics And Colleges (UPAC) basketball championship organised by Yaw Sakyi’s Rite Sports Company Limited. To keep it brief, that team was quite successful in the zonal qualifiers but fell short during the nationals. Fast forward to today, GIMPA Basketball is now competing in Ghana Universities Sports Association (GUSA) basketball competitions.
We are poised to start with baby steps, all while recognising the effort needed to improve our gains year after year. Black Oak Athletics, through the National Basketball Invitational (NBI) will raise the standard of our games through elevated fan and player experiences, strategic partnerships and investments.
Question: Any final words?
McMartey: Well, I’d like to encourage everyone to come for the 2023 invitational. It promises to be a memorable one. It is not just a basketball game. The significance of choosing Tema as the host city for a tournament like this is also key. The city appreciates basketball and the Hip-Hop culture and we welcome all “December In Ghana” tourists. Basketball in Ghana is gaining more interest by the day. Individuals and organisations which care about brands on a quest to make an impact in the lives of the ordinary person within the community should reach out. Let’s work together to achieve our desired impact.
