KIGALI – Champs for Change (C4C), a pan-African social enterprise dedicated to developing talent within Africa’s sports industry, has chosen Kigali as its East Africa Hub, for expanding opportunities of young people seeking careers across the continent’s growing sports ecosystem.
The announcement was made during the second edition of “Behind the Game,” a high-level gathering held on the sidelines of the just concluded Basketball Africa League (BAL) Finals in Kigali.
The event brought together sports executives, investors, policymakers, athletes, media professionals and young people from across Africa to discuss the future of the continent’s sports industry.
The decision to establish an East Africa hub in Kigali reflects C4C’s ambition to create stronger regional networks while expanding access to career opportunities for young Africans.
Beyond producing elite athletes, the organization supports the wider workforce that powers the sports ecosystem, including administrators, coaches, event managers, entrepreneurs, media professionals and policymakers.
Building the people behind the game
A central theme throughout the forum was that the long-term success of African sport depends not only on talent on the field of play, but also on the systems and professionals working behind the scenes.
Hosted by renowned sports journalist Usher Komugisha, the event featured discussions on leadership, investment, governance, infrastructure and talent development. Speakers emphasized the importance of building sustainable institutions capable of supporting the industry’s continued growth.
Among the featured speakers was Victor Williams, Managing Partner of Lions Range Group and former CEO of NBA Africa, who highlighted the need for long-term thinking and ecosystem development to unlock Africa’s sporting potential.
The forum also included a youth panel moderated by Erica Mbanda, bringing together Rwanda Boxing Federation President Bashir Ntwari, Roadwork Community founder Jude Raul Karibu and Rwanda Ministry of Sports Events Manager Paula Kami.
The discussions focused on career pathways, opportunity creation and the role young people can play in shaping the future of sport.
Creating opportunities across the continent
One of the evening’s highlights was an executive panel titled “The Business Behind the Game,” which explored investment and business opportunities emerging across Africa’s sports landscape.
The session featured former NBA players and investors Ian Mahinmi and Pops Mensah-Bonsu alongside FIBA Hall of Famer and C4C co-founder Clarisse Machanguana. Panelists discussed how stronger leadership, strategic investment and partnerships can help transform sport into a driver of economic and social development.
The event also featured reflections from FIBA Africa President Anibal Manave and concluded with remarks from Rwanda’s Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Sports, Candy Basomingera, who underscored the importance of investing in people and institutions to ensure sustainable growth.
During the gathering, C4C unveiled the softcover edition of the C4C & WWLA Sports Volume, a publication designed to make sports industry knowledge and career opportunities more accessible to young Africans.
Founded by Memuna Williams, Clarisse Machanguana and Randy Soumahoro, Champs for Change focuses on equipping Africans aged 16 to 30 with mentorship, training and professional networks that can transform a passion for sport into meaningful careers.
With Kigali now serving as its East Africa Hub, the organization hopes to accelerate its mission of building the workforce that will help power the future of African sport.
