South Sudan looking to promote the country through basketball

JUBA (FIBA AfroBasket 2017) - Africa's newest country, South Sudan, is looking to make the most of its talented players spread across the world.

With countless players based as far as Kenya, Australia, Canada and the USA, South Sudanese continue to remind everyone that they are a team to look out in African basketball scene in the near future.

And things couldn't be more encouraging for a country that became independent in 2011 as they won the inaugural World Indigenous Basketball Challenge in Vancouver, Canada last month.

"We want to give these young people an opportunity of feeling proud of our country," Acuil Banggol, General Secretary of South Sudan's Basketball Federation, told FIBA.com. "All we want is to promote the potential of our country and basketball is a key platform to achieve that goal. The talent is there, we just need to keep on working."

And by the time the FIBA AfroBasket 2017 Zone 5 qualifier tips off next year, South Sudan will look to make its international debut in style.

"We have been in contact with some of those players, and most of them are willing to represent South Sudan. It will take time until we finalise this recruitment process but we are optimistic," Banggol went on.

He is even considering attracting Milwaukee Bucks rookie Thon Maker, Chol Beny - a high-regarded high-school player - and Deng Mayot, who is making noise in Australia's youth basketball ranks.

But there is some work to be done, admits, Banggol: “We lacked the resources that other countries have, and we are chasing the Olympic solidarity from our partners.”

Jerry Steele led Palestine to a 4-4 mark at FIBA Asia Championship 2015

Jerry Steele, who coached Palestine at last year's FIBA Asia Championship, led South Sudan at the Vancouver tournament on a volunteer agreement, but the federation seems keen to attract him. 

If South Sudan can succeed at FIBA Africa Zone 5 qualifiers, they will make their first major appearance at FIBA AfroBasket 2017 in Brazzaville, Republic of Congo.

FIBA