ABOUT THE TEAM
Janet Cherono
Chief of Staff, AfriqueU Nairobi, Kenya
Janet Cherono is an accomplished executive administrator with over 15 years of experience supporting high-level leadership across government, private sector, and international development.
At AfriqueU, she anchors cross-continental operations by managing executive coordination, streamlining systems, and ensuring excellence across the organization’s multi-country network.
Prior to joining AfriqueU, Janet served with distinction at USAID Kenya and East Africa, the Prosper Africa Executive Secretariat in Washington DC, and Power Africa in South Africa. Based in Nairobi, Janet is passionate about building institutions that connect local talent with global opportunity. She brings a steady hand and visionary mindset to AfriqueU’s mission of bridging Africa and America through basketball and education.
Nilton Zandamela
Country Director, Mozambique – AfriqueU
Nilton Zandamela is an economic development professional with deep experience in policy, youth empowerment, and project design. He holds a degree in Economics and International Trade from Jilian University and a post-graduate certificate in Project Management from the Instituto Superior de Gestão.
He recently served as a Policy Analyst in the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), where he supported strategic initiatives advancing inclusive growth. Before that, he worked with World Food Program Mozambique, designing programs that promote entrepreneurship and employment opportunities for youth and women.
Zandamela brings a lifelong passion for basketball to his role both as a fan and player. His leadership will help position Mozambique as a vital hub in AfriqueU’s cross-continental basketball and education platform.
Narék Sahakyan
Research Director; Madison, WI, USA - AfriqueU
Narék Sahakyan is a researcher working at the intersection of education, economics, and sports, bringing together over two decades of academic research and policy and data analysis to understand and maximize opportunity and human development. Dr. Sahakyan’s research has focused on economics, educational policy, equity for multilingual learners, and large-scale assessment, applying statistical models to inform policy, practice and school accountability. With a master’s degree in applied economics for his research on economic corruption in Armenia, and a doctorate in educational policy analysis and leadership for examining the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on student outcomes, Narék is especially interested in how institutions can shape stronger pathways facilitating sustainable growth, equitable opportunities, and long-term success.
Beyond his academic and policy work, Narék is deeply interested in education, sports and games as a space for talent development, social mobility, and global connection. Education and sports are also a major part of how he thinks about leadership, talent, and development. Narék is especially passionate about soccer and FC Barcelona and still enjoys wearing the number 10 once a week in a recreational league in Madison.
Stephen Berlinguette
Country Director, Morocco – AfriqueU
Stephen Berlinguette has over 20 years of experience bridging the private sector and government, directing major U.S. foreign assistance portfolios and building partnerships with corporates and higher education institutions across multiple emerging markets in Africa and Asia.
As General Development Office Director at USAID/Morocco, he led a $115 million portfolio in economic growth, education, and governance, working closely with Moroccan government leaders and civil society to advance inclusive development and facilitate private investment.
At AfriqueU, Stephen steers the company’s country strategy, anchoring our presence in Morocco and driving business development by integrating basketball, education, and entrepreneurship into a dynamic engine of opportunity for Morocco’s business community guided by the same spirit of teamwork, integrity, and social impact that placed Boston Celtic Bill Russell virtually alone atop the NBA pantheon.
Bienfait Kanan
Staff Engineer and Basketball Director, DRC
A Civil Engineering graduate of Université Libre des Pays des Grands Lacs (ULPGL), Bienfait has applied his engineering background beyond the field: he founded the NGO Build & Ball, which creates spaces for youth to play sports.
On the court, he came up through the PJB Basketball Academy in Goma, where he served as team captain and was named MVP of the 2021/22 season. In 2023, he won the DRC national basketball title with ASB Virunga and was selected to represent the DRC at the Road to BAL, competing against 16 of Africa’s top teams in Cameroon.
He brings this combination of engineering rigor and elite competitive leadership to his work with AfriqueU.
Gordon Gogo Ouma
Compliance Officer, AfriqueU Nairobi, Kenya
Gordon Gogo Ouma is an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya, working at the intersection of sports law, data infrastructure, and AI governance across African sport. As Compliance Officer, he oversees AfriqueU’s NCAA and amateurism compliance and its broader legal work.
He is Founder and CEO of Afritech Sports Technology and Innovation Group, Managing Partner of GMA Global Sports and Business Advisory, and a UNODC Ethics and Integrity Ambassador. He is the lead author of The Invisible Athlete (2026), and holds qualifications in AI strategy (UPenn), data analytics (SUNY Buffalo), and a Masters in Esports Management and Gaming from ITTI Sports Institute. He is currently pursuing a Global Masters in International Sports Law at ISDE Madrid.
Corey J. Gaines
Director of Scouting and Basketball Director, Rwanda. – AfriqueU
Corey J. Gaines is an international basketball coach, entrepreneur, and youth development leader with more than 20 years of experience using basketball as a platform for athletic development, education, mentorship, and opportunity. His coaching career spans the United Kingdom and Africa, where he has developed athletes, built basketball programs, led competitive teams, and created pathways designed to help young people succeed both on and off the court.
As the Founder and former Program Director of NEJR LTD (UK), Corey developed and managed basketball and mentorship programs serving young people from early childhood through elite-level development. His work extended far beyond traditional coaching. He built partnerships with schools, businesses, community organizations, and local government; developed basketball and mentorship curricula, and organized camps/ tournaments/ international opportunities. His work is grounded in creating sustainable basketball programs that develop the whole athlete—combining athletic excellence with education, discipline, leadership, and personal growth. Beyond player development, Corey has created opportunities for young people to gain coaching, officiating, and basketball leadership qualifications, equipping them with skills and experience that has opened doors to future careers within the sport.
Since relocating to Africa, Corey expanded his coaching experience with the AZOMCO Global Division 1 men’s team in Rwanda during the 2024/2025 season, where he focused on player development, competitive performance, and supporting the growth of athletes both individually and collectively. His time coaching in Rwanda has deepened his understanding of the African basketball landscape and provided valuable firsthand insight into the talent, development needs, and pathways available to emerging players.
As Head of Scouting for AfriqueU, Corey is leading the organization’s scouting efforts across Africa to identify and evaluate emerging basketball talent. Drawing on his experience in player development, he brings an experienced eye to identifying talent with the potential to succeed at higher levels. His approach to scouting is about creating opportunity—connecting promising African athletes with educational institutions, professional leagues, and basketball organizations around the world, while helping those organizations discover talent that can strengthen their programs. Through this work, his goal is to use basketball as a pathway to expand opportunities and positively impact the lives and futures of players.
Eric Onyiego Mang’era
Director of Communications | AfriqueU
Eric Onyiego serves as AfriqueU’s Director of Communications, leading communications strategy, media
relations, digital engagement, and brand storytelling. He works with the leadership team and partners to
strengthen AfriqueU’s visibility, communicate its impact, and turn audience engagement into trusted
relationships, partnership opportunities, and long-term organizational growth, supporting its mission to
advance basketball development and opportunity across Africa.
A strategic communications and public diplomacy specialist with more than 12 years of experience, Eric
brings a background spanning international development, diplomacy, nonprofit advocacy, political
communications, sports communications, and private-sector consulting. His previous roles include senior
communications positions with USAID Kenya and East Africa and the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi.
He has advised senior leaders on public image and positioning, brand identity, strategic messaging, and
reputation management, helping align their public engagements with organizational priorities. Eric has also
built strong relationships with local and regional media and supported communications for high-level
presidential and diplomatic visits, public health campaigns, climate justice initiatives, and development
programmes.
His expertise includes executive messaging, stakeholder engagement, social media strategy, multimedia
storytelling, event communications, crisis communications, and public sentiment analysis. He combines
strategic planning with hands-on content development and real-time digital engagement to connect
organizational priorities with the audiences that matter.
He holds a Master of Arts in Communication Studies and a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from United States
International University–Africa (USIU-Africa).
Moses Vallery Juma
Executive Assistant to the CEO & Basketball Representative – Kenya
Moses Vallery Juma is a communications, basketball, and media professional with experience across sports media, basketball operations, digital content, and strategic communications. He currently serves as Executive Assistant to the CEO and Basketball Representative for Kenya at Afrique U, supporting the CEO in strategic initiatives, partnerships, basketball programs, stakeholder engagement, and the organization’s activities in Kenya.
Prior to his current role, Moses served as Social Media Director at Afrique U, where he led the organization’s digital communications, content strategy, social media growth, and community engagement. He played a key role in building Afrique U’s digital presence and amplifying its basketball, education, and community initiatives.
Moses has extensive experience in basketball communications, including work with the Basketball Africa League (BAL) and Road to BAL programs in roles spanning Media Coordinator, Content Lead, Correspondent, Social Media Manager, and Feature Writer. He has been involved in media operations, accreditation, interviews, content production, press relations, and digital storytelling across major basketball events in Africa.
His broader sports media experience includes work with TV47/Radio47, Nation Media Group, KCB Rugby, Tusker Football Club, Nairobi City Thunder, Athletics Kenya, and the Kenya Golf Union, covering basketball, rugby, football, athletics, and golf.
At Afrique U, Moses focuses on supporting the organization’s leadership and basketball initiatives in Kenya while helping strengthen connections between Africa and the United States through basketball and education.
Hellen Mwikali Willy
Office Manager | AfriqueU
Hellen Mwikali Willy is an experienced executive administration and operations professional with over 13 years of experience spanning aviation, customer service, executive support, and office management. She brings strong expertise in administrative coordination, stakeholder engagement, travel logistics, operational planning, and organisational support.
Before joining AfriqueU, Hellen served as a Personal Executive Assistant and Administrator at Tripple A Petroleum, following eight years in aviation customer service and passenger handling. Her diverse experience has strengthened her ability to coordinate complex operations, support senior leadership, manage competing priorities, and maintain high standards of professionalism.
At AfriqueU, Hellen supports executive operations, team coordination, travel and logistics, and administrative systems that enable the organisation to deliver on its mission. She is passionate about building efficient systems, fostering collaboration, and contributing to initiatives that expand opportunities for young Africans through basketball, education, and international partnerships.
Njeri Mbugua
Social Media Lead | AfriqueU
Njeri Mbugua leads social media at AfriqueU, where she shapes the organization’s digital
voice, tells the stories of its people, and builds engaged basketball communities across Africa
and beyond. Her work makes AfriqueU’s mission visible and gives fans, partners, and
athletes a way to connect with it.
A sports entrepreneur, journalist, and digital storyteller, Njeri believes media can open doors
for African sports. She is also the Founder of Talanta Draft KE, a sports technology venture
that connects African athletes with local and international opportunities through verified
profiles, performance data, and storytelling.
Njeri began her career in print journalism and English language teaching, and she brings that
mix of communication and education to everything she does. She is driven by the conviction
that African athletes deserve greater visibility, access, and clear pathways to success.
