In light rain, a member of an NBA basketball camp in Juba, Africa, throws a shot during a practice with Chicago Bulls star South Sudanese refugee Loul Deng. Photo by Tim Freccia/Enough Project. Image source and credits.
South Sudan, the youngest country in Africa, could soon make basketball history. The ‘Shining Stars’ team competes for qualification to the FIBA World Cup, to be held between August and September 2023 in three Asian countries, Indonesia, Japan and the Philippines. The South Sudanese are just one match away from joining four other African representatives in the tournament.
Under the tutelage of former NBA star Luol Deng, the South Sudanese stars have defied doubters by virtually winning all nine games (losing only one game) in the FIBA World Cup Africa Qualifiers.
South Sudan is known for having the tallest population in Africa and has a rich basketball history. That’s where the late Manute Bol, the second-largest player of African descent and the NBA’s overall tallest player, who was selected in the draft in 1985, came from. His exploits in the mid-1980s and early 1990s made that many young Sudanese became interested in basketball. Upon his retirement, he returned home and actively participated in the war of liberation of South Sudan from Sudan. He paved the way for many other players of Sudanese origin, including the current president of the South Sudan Basketball Federation, Luol Deng.
In recognition of his efforts, Deng was awarded the Order of the British Empire for his collaboration and efforts in basketball. He has dual nationality, English and South Sudanese. This cements his efforts in building the game beyond his career as a club player and across national borders.
Former Sudanese basketball players formed the South Sudan Basketball Federation in February 2011 and became part of FIBA in December 2013. Due to the lack of infrastructure in Juba and other towns, most players played in the Foreign. The Federation has been working to develop a competitive league for men and women.
Road to the world cup
Youth at the NBA Africa basketball camp in Juba train before a game attended by Chicago Bulls star South Sudanese refugee Luol Deng. Photo by Tim Freccia/Enough Project. Image source and credits.
In January 2020, the Shining Stars lost to Kenya in the FIBA Afrobasket rankings, but quickly recovered to become the leaders in the World Cup tournament. Before the loss, the team had won four of their games. In November 2020, an opportunity to qualify for the Afrobasket tournament arose after Algeria withdrew due to fears of COVID-19. The African basketball invitation featured Cape Verde, Chad and South Sudan, who won to qualify for Afrobasket 2021.
Deng took on the responsibility of bringing together the young players, many of whom played abroad to develop a competitive team. With the FastScout Pro tool, the team has been growing strong, becoming a major contender to play in the World Cup. The FastScout Pro tool is a platform to track player performance during matches, and give coaches and the technical bench data that is used to decide plays and how to approach matches.
Entering the next qualifying phase scheduled for November 2022, the South Sudanese team is first in the FIBA Africa rankings. Some of the players on the national team also play for Cobra Sport, a team from the South Sudanese basketball league, which was part of the Africa Basketball League in 2022, a collaboration between FIBA and the NBA to develop regional talent from the African continent and show it to the world. . The team includes talented players such as Padiet Wang (point guard, who went from the bench to hit the court), Deng Ring (of the Newfound Rangers, Canada) and Nuni Omot (plays in Puerto Rico, previously played briefly for the Goldenstate Warriors). and the Brooklyn Nets in the NBA Summer League).
heroes welcome
Upon his return to the country from the Window 4 World Cup qualifiers, South Sudanese President Salva Kiir welcomed the team like heroes. The qualifiers are the fourth round of games for African teams that are looking to qualify for the World Cup. The final round will have the Window 5 qualifiers in November.
Thank you to His Excellency President Salva Kiir Mayardit for your invitation and the kind words of support! ???????????? pic.twitter.com/xs7UcG5Qvm
— South Sudan Basketball (@SSBFed) August 31, 2022
Thanks to His Excellency the President, Salva Kiir Mayardit, for his invitation and his kind words of support!
????????????
On Twitter, the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) declared that the Shining Stars have reached the pinnacle of glory.
South Sudan heroes return to Juba ✈️????????
Not officially World Cup bound just yet, but the Bright Stars are standing on the cusp of glory! ????
???? @SSBFed #FIBAWC x #WinForSouthSudan | @FIBAWC pic.twitter.com/KNqiXD982r
– FIBA (@FIBA) August 30, 2022
South Sudanese heroes return to Juba. ✈️????????
Not yet qualified for the World Cup, but the Shining Stars are on the cusp of glory!????
????South Sudan Basketball
Activities at Juba International Airport came to a near standstill with family, friends and fans of the beloved team. Player Padiet Wang captured and posted the jubilant celebrations on his Instagram profile.
Window 5 will be played between February 24-26, 2023, and the Shining Stars will seek to qualify for the World Cup for the first time as the world’s youngest democratic republic.
