A web of problems
When hope runs out
|Over & Back
Basketball is spreading from its American origins to places as distant and unknown as Yaoundé, Cameroon. Young men in the capital city grow up with dreams of playing abroad, but they don’t know what stands in their way.
This year’s recipients, Matt Stevens and Maya Sugarman, spent 31 days in Yaoundé and nearby villages listening to the stories of players, coaches and administrators involved in the game. They conducted a number of interviews in French, which were translated into English by paid professionals. The reporters paid for meals and transportation for sources who agreed to be interviewed. These sources also provided informal translation. In line with cultural standards, the reporters accepted meals provided to them during home visits.