South Sudan’s Wenyen Gabriel Aims for Historic Olympic Debut in Paris 2024

When South Sudan gained independence in 2011, Bayamón Vaqueros reinforcement Wenyen Gabriel was just 14 years old. For this reason, he never imagined that he would have the opportunity to represent his country at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

It will be the first time that the South Sudan men’s national basketball team will be present at the Olympics, becoming the youngest nation in history to qualify for the prestigious sporting event.

“It is an opportunity for which I am very grateful. It’s one of the reasons why I believe everything happens for a reason. As a child, we didn’t have a country until 2011 and it never crossed my mind that when I grew up I would play in the Olympics. The opportunity came and being able to be part of my nation’s first Olympic appearance is a blessing,” commented Gabriel after his first game in the National Superior Basketball (BSN) with the Vaqueros.

The strong forward, 27 years old and 6’9″ tall, debuted in the BSN against the champions Gigantes de Carolina with a solid performance in which he finished with 13 points and 10 rebounds, despite not being part of the initial team. And the 23 minutes that he saw action were enough for him to prove that the local league will serve as preparation for what awaits him in Paris 2024.

Wenyen Gabriel was not part of the Vaqueros de Bayamón’s starting lineup, but finished with 13 points and 10 rebounds in 23 minutes. (Ramon “Tonito” Zayas)

“One of the reasons I’m excited to be here is because the way they play in Puerto Rico is similar to how they play in the FIBA ​​World Cup. It’s the same rules and it’s the same level of physical play. “It is the perfect preparation for the Olympics,” he said.

Gabriel wore the colors of South Sudan in the 2023 World Cup, where his country qualified for the Olympic Games by being the best classified team in the African zone. In fact, it was at the World Cup where he met his now leader Nelson Colón, since the South Sudanese team’s first game was a 101-96 defeat against Puerto Rico.

“We hesitate a little bit about that. We haven’t talked much about it, but he told me: ‘I’m very calm because I know the coach. I saw what you did (in the World Cup) and I know how you prepare the teams,’” Colón said.

And for the South Sudanese, many of his new colleagues are not strangers. Gabriel said that he knows Stephen Thompson Jr. and Ángel Rodríguez and that he has played against Ysmael Romero and Onzie Branch. However, he also knows about BSN from one of his close friends and compatriot, Nuni Omot, who reinforced the Leones de Ponce in 2022.

“The only things I have heard from the BSN are good things. One of my close friends, Nuni Omot, played at Ponce two years ago and told me that his time at BSN was the most fun he has had playing basketball. None of the people I have asked about the BSN have told me anything negative,” he said.

Despite Gabriel’s potential with Bayamón, his commitment to the South Sudan National Team does not allow him to stay the entire season and his last day in the franchise will be June 1. However, he pointed out that that is why he will not stop giving his all on the court to help the Vaqueros be in a favorable position when they are close to the playoffs.

“I am here to help us win. I’m not here to do anything out of the ordinary. I’m going to bring my energy, defend well, block, run the court, make screens… All the little things that are necessary to win are the reason I’m here,” she stated.

2024-04-04 21:32:09
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