In Summary
- Former NBA star Luol Deng has been paying for South Sudan’s basketball team
- South Sudan gained independence in 2011.
- Deng has shown a lot of support to South Sudan with his investment,
Former NBA star Luol Deng has been paying for South Sudan’s basketball team and investing in the program for years, according to head coach Royal Ivey.
Speaking to Donatas Urbonas Of Basket News Ivey said Deng has funded the team’s necessities like travel, gym and exercise equipment, and much more. He praised Deng for the commitment he has shown to the program.
“Luol Deng has been funding this thing for four years out of his own pocket. He pays for gyms, hotels, plane tickets—everything. Kudos to Luol and the staff. We wouldn’t have been able to put this team together without them.”
Ivey spoke on what South Sudan’s victory Sunday over Puerto Rico (90-79) meant to him
“Being at the Olympics and getting our first win — this is so surreal,” Ivey told Texas Athletics after the game. “I couldn’t experience anything better than this. This is a movie.
READ also:Kenyan Basketball Star Madina Okot Signs for United States Team
Luo Deng
Luol Ajou Deng OBE is a South Sudanese-British former professional basketball player.
He was a two-time NBA All-Star and was named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team in 2012. Born in what is now South Sudan, Deng fled the country with his family as a child, eventually settling in the United Kingdom.
READ also:South Sudan Hosts First-ever World Cup Qualifier Match In Juba
South Sudan men’s national basketball team
@SSBFed X
The South Sudan men’s national basketball team is the national basketball team representing South Sudan
Its official name is South Sudan Basketball Federation. It was established in May 2011, and became a member of FIBA in December 2013.
They are nicknamed the Bright Stars.
The most recently founded national basketball team in FIBA , South Sudan has already played at one AfroBasket tournament in 2021 and the 2023 fiba World Cup and qualified for 2024 Summer Olympics .
The team played its first unofficial match in Juba against Ugandan club champion power on 13 July 2011. Power won the match 86–84.
Netizens Hail The South Sudan Team
Netizens across different nations have taken to social media showcasing immense support for the South Sudanese Basketball team,
Some comments are captured below
”Mama Africa will be proud”
‘lol I’m rooting for every African team’
”No African nation at the Olympic men’s basketball has won a game since 1996 until South Sudan came in. A win for mama Africa”
With their first win in the books, Ivey and the team must look forward to their next game against a familiar opponent: Team USA. In a rematch on Wednesday,
