Kobe Bryant came to South Africa in 2010 as part of a health project with Nike. He visited a state-of-the-art training facility for budding soccer players in the Gauteng township to inspire the teenagers.
“While basketball is my chosen sport, I’ve been a football fan all my life. So, to be in South Africa for the first time and see how Nike is utilizing sport to inspire youth and educate them around HIV/AIDS is amazing,”. If you’d have told me I would be able to visit a place like Soweto when I was younger, I wouldn’t believe you. It is all because of basketball, I’m so grateful,” he said Bryant. He added that was clear that the Centre would help keep kids out of trouble, improve their games and empower them with life skills.
The NBA legend passed away at the age of 41 on the 26th of January 2020, in a helicopter crash near Los Angeles along with his 13-year-old daughter and seven other people. The 18-time All-Star won five NBA championships becoming one of the greatest basketball players of his generation during a 20-year career with the Lakers. Bryant retired in 2016 as the third-leading scorer in NBA history with 33,643 points.
According to Adam Silver, NBA Commissioner, “The NBA is devastated by the passing of Kobe Bryant and his daughter Giana. For 20 seasons, Kobe showed us what is possible when remarkable talent blends with absolute devotion to winning. He was one of the most extraordinary players in the history of our game with accomplishments that are legendary but he will be remembered most for inspiring people around the world to pick up a basketball and compete to the very best of their ability.”
