Kriol Star Guard Joel Almeida Honoured with BAL Ubuntu Trophy for Community Impact
June 10, 2025
By Boris Esono Nwenfor
Almeida has spearheaded basketball clinics and camps that have reached more than 100 youth and aspiring players over the past year
BUEA, Cameroon – Kriol Star Basketball (Cape Verde) guard Joel Almeida will be awarded the prestigious 2025 BAL Ubuntu Trophy in recognition of his exceptional community work in Cape Verde. The award will be presented during an on-court ceremony at SunBet Arena before the second semifinal of the Basketball Africa League (BAL) on Wednesday, June 11, at 6:30 p.m. CAT.
The Ubuntu Trophy, one of BAL's most meaningful honours, celebrates players who go beyond the game to make a significant impact in their communities during the BAL season. For Almeida, the award is a testament to a year of dedication to using basketball as a tool to transform lives across Cape Verde.
Alongside his brother Ivan Almeida, Joel helped transform Kriol Star Basketball from a local club and foundation into a competitive force on the African basketball scene. Their leadership was instrumental in guiding the team — and the country — to its first-ever qualification for the BAL this season.
Off the court, Almeida has spearheaded basketball clinics and camps that have reached more than 100 youth and aspiring players over the past year. These initiatives have focused on fostering player and coach development, popularizing the game of basketball, and creating opportunities for underserved communities in Cape Verde.
On the court, Almeida delivered a strong performance throughout the 2025 BAL regular season, appearing in all six games against US Monastir (Tunisia), Petro de Luanda (Angola), and ASC Ville de Dakar (Senegal).
He helped Kriol Star secure a postseason berth, finishing third in the Sahara Conference with a 3-3 record and earning the No. 7 seed across all three BAL conferences. Almeida averaged 9 points and 3 rebounds per game and continues to represent Cape Verde as a key member of the Men’s National Team.
Almeida's Ubuntu Trophy serves as a reminder that the true spirit of basketball lies not only in competition but also in its power to inspire, uplift, and transform lives.
Previous BAL Ubuntu Trophy winners include Hichem Benayad-Cherif (Algeria’s Groupement Sportif des Pétroliers; 2021), Jean-Jacques Nshobozwabyosenumukiza (Rwanda Energy Group Basketball Club; 2022), Tonny Drileba (Uganda’s City Oilers; 2023) and Alkaly Ndour (Senegal’s AS Douanes; 2024).
