Botswana has officially launched the Ballin N Da Bush Safari Classic, a premier Super Continental Basketball Tournament that organisers say will elevate the country’s profile as a destination for elite basketball while creating opportunities for local players to compete on the international stage.

The tournament, scheduled for September 28 to 30 at the UB Indoor Sports Arena, will feature leading clubs from across Africa and Europe competing for a US$100,000 (approximately P1.3 million) prize purse, one of the largest in African basketball. The event is governed by the International Basketball Union (IBU) and is backed by Talent Capital, Bridge Elite Global and MyStocks.Africa.

Addressing guests at the official launch in Gaborone on Tuesday, Talent Capital Chief Executive Officer Mooketsi T.M.J. Morolong said the tournament is designed to position Botswana as a hub for international basketball while creating sustainable opportunities for local athletes.

“We are not just hosting a tournament; we are building an ecosystem that will commercialise local talent and create scalable economic infrastructure through sports,” said Morolong.

The Safari Classic follows an invitational qualifying tournament held in October last year at the SSKB Basketball Courts, where participation was by invitation only. Unlike conventional qualification events, teams did not enter through open registration or preliminary rounds; organisers directly invited every participating club, including international teams.

The qualifying tournament served as the official pathway to this year’s Safari Classic, with only the top three teams securing places in the main event.

Participating teams included Botswana’s BDF V, Broadhurst Aspire and UB Relics; South Africa’s Joburg Giants and Royal Russell; Costa do Sol of Mozambique; Les Maurex BC from France; the Côte d’Ivoire Under-23 National Team; Black Thunder BC from Rwanda; and AS Douanes of Burkina Faso.

Morolong said the qualification process ensured that only the strongest teams advanced to the showcase tournament.

“The invitational qualifiers allowed us to identify the highest-performing teams and assemble a competition that reflects the quality and standard we want the Safari Classic to be known for.”

Beyond the competition, the tournament will feature elite youth basketball clinics led by former NBA players Earl Barron and Devin Green. At the same time, organisers also plan to establish a permanent Basketball Academy in Botswana to identify, develop and connect local players with international prep schools, colleges and professional clubs.

Organisers believe the tournament will also stimulate sports tourism by attracting international teams, scouts, investors and supporters, creating economic opportunities for the hospitality and tourism sectors while strengthening Botswana’s reputation as a destination for major sporting events.

Morolong said the launch marks the beginning of a long-term vision for basketball in Botswana.

“This is bigger than a single tournament. We are creating a platform that gives African talent global exposure, attracts investment into sport and establishes Botswana as a home for world-class basketball.”

Tournament fixtures, participating teams and ticketing information are expected to be announced in the coming weeks ahead of the September showpiece.