Organisers of the PACE Coaches Clinic have announced plans to train up to 600 basketball coaches as the fourth edition of the programme returns to Enugu and Lagos later this month to strengthen grassroots basketball development in Nigeria.
The free coaching clinic, organised by the Smart Sport Foundation in partnership with Home Court Africa, will take place in Enugu on July 28 and 29 before moving to Lagos on August 1 and 2.
Organisers said this year’s edition is expected to accommodate about 300 coaches in each location and will also feature an Elite 20 Camp for outstanding young basketball players as part of efforts to nurture emerging talent and improve player development pathways.
The programme will provide participants with training in modern coaching techniques, athlete development, child safeguarding, leadership, effective communication and international best practices. Practical sessions will also be conducted to enhance coaching capacity and promote quality basketball instruction at the grassroots level.
Speaking on the objectives of the initiative, Founder of Smart Sport Foundation, Ikenna Smart, said the clinic is designed not only to improve technical coaching skills but also to develop future leaders through sports.
“The PACE Clinic exists to close the skill and basketball IQ gap by equipping players and coaches with the knowledge, tools, and environment to succeed. We believe basketball is more than a game; it’s a vehicle for creating opportunities, developing leaders, and changing lives,” he said.
Smart stressed that long-term success in sports depends on commitment from both coaches and athletes.
“Success doesn’t happen by chance. We ask our athletes and coaches to commit to the work, and our job is to provide them with the formula, resources, and guidance to reach their full potential,” he added.
President of SWA Sports, Aisha Shuaibu, said the partnership with Smart Sport Foundation reflects a shared commitment to advancing grassroots basketball development through the Home Court Africa initiative.
According to her, Home Court Africa was established to provide local expertise in implementing basketball development projects capable of creating sustainable impact across African communities.
“Our mission is to be the trusted on-the-ground partner for athletes, organisations, and brands seeking to create meaningful, lasting legacy projects through the transformative power of basketball. We believe sustainable impact begins with strong local expertise, strategic execution, and a shared commitment to grassroots development,” Shuaibu said.
The organisers said the PACE Coaches Clinic will continue to focus on expanding participation in basketball, improving coaching standards, enhancing athlete development and strengthening community engagement through the sport.
They encouraged coaches, schools, clubs and other stakeholders in the basketball ecosystem to take advantage of the free training programme as preparations gather momentum for the 2026 edition.
Grassroots coaching programmes have become increasingly important in Nigeria’s sports development strategy, with stakeholders emphasising the need to equip coaches with modern training methods to improve player development, raise competition standards and create more opportunities for young athletes to excel locally and internationally.
