Tongan basketball players Nathan Kioa and Milika Fifita were selected to join 15 others from the region, to take part in the FIBA Foundation's Youth Leadership Program, starting in September.

FIBA's Youth Leadership Program this year will consist of four online workshops in September, followed by a three-day intensive workshop in New Zealand, with guest facilitators lined up to share their insight and provide valuable mentorship.

Sarah Cowley, Inoke Niubalavu, Byron Vaetoe, and Annie La Fleur will lead the intensive workshops in Auckland from October 20-22.

“The key messages for the workshop are about empowering the Youth Leaders not only to continue their own personal development but to take back what they learn to enrich their own federation community,” Cowley said.

Meanwhile, FIBA Executive Director on Oceania, Amanda Jenkins, added that the program assists with forming the foundations to further empower national federations as they strive for basketball growth and sustainability on and off the court.

The FIBA Foundation’s Youth Leadership program is a global Basketball For Good initiative, giving youths the skills and opportunities to create a brighter future for themselves and their communities. The Youth Leaders are supported to create their own community impact project, growing the Basketball For Good family worldwide.