Kenya women’s basketball side Th3 Swish has been handed a major boost, following its new partnership with Pioneer 101, an affiliate company of American businessman Michael W Nicholson.Download our MozzartSport App For More NewsIn an Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) reached over the weekend, Th3 Swish will commit to a three-year union with Pioneer 101, who are hell-bent on transforming the side into a competitive team on the international stage.##NAJAVA_MECA_9936891##“It’s a three-year partnership,” Nicholson, who is also CEO of AfriqueU, an international sports platform and network designed to bridge African basketball talent with U.S. collegiate systems and the NCAA, said. “Within three years, we want to see Th3 Swish cut the nets as the champions of Africa.”With his background in talent search and development that extends well beyond the sport, Nicholson hopes to strike a similar balance with Th3 Swish, who are aligned with similar goals aimed to achieve women empowerment, and creation of inclusive opportunities.NCBA Golf Series Ruiru: Metto, Wambui claim top honours“AfriqueU is about developing pathways for players, especially the young ones from Africa, to Australia, and the United States,” Nicholson said. “They get an education and get to pursue a career in basketball.”Founded in 2022 by Kenya Morans power forward Ariel Okall Koranga, Th3 Swish has fully operated community-based, self-sponsored professional women's basketball club, but a new dawn now beckons.“What we are doing here is different,” Nicholson said. “Th3 Swish is a professional club not backed by institutions like most Kenyan basketball teams. It comes from the community, and we want to take advantage of the commercial opportunities that the women’s game is having globally.”Sokoiyo, Tata among individual award winners at African Nations Volleyball championshipHaving built its way up to the Kenya National Basketball League (KNBL) Women’s Premier League, Th3 Swish has already built a reputation for its off-court activity, spanning from mentorship, life skills, and mental health support.In May, Okal was recognized for his exceptional contributions to the community through Swish, efforts that saw him receive the Basketball Africa League (BAL) Ubuntu Award.Nairobi City Thunder forward wins prestigious BAL Award for his positive impact on community“This whole thing started with my sister Felmas Koranga, who was the first Kenyan to play NCAA Division I basketball in the USA,” Okal said. “I felt inspired, and thought we could get more girls to play, and this led me to founding the team.This partnership is a game changer, and changes the perspective of how the team runs. The culture remains the same, but the girls will have a renewed mindset to play the game more professionally.”
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