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Thousands of jubilant South Sudanese fans turned out Thursday to welcome home their national basketball team, the Bright Stars, after their historic first appearance at the Olympic Games.
The Bright Stars were greeted with enthusiasm at the airport by fans and dignitaries, who then escorted them in a grand procession to a stadium in Juba. There, the players were honored with a vibrant ceremony filled with traditional dance and musical performances, celebrating their remarkable journey on the global stage.
The team’s participation in Paris has been a beacon of hope and pride for the world’s youngest nation, despite their early exit after group stage losses to the United States and Serbia.
Team captain Kuany Kuany addressed the cheering crowd, saying: “The whole world now knows who South Sudan is…through basketball”. South Sudan, which gained independence in 2011, has since been beset by civil war, political and ethnic violence, poverty, and natural disasters. In this context, the Bright Stars’ achievements have provided a much-needed source of national pride.
The rapid rise of South Sudan’s basketball team is largely credited to Luol Deng, the president of the South Sudan Basketball Federation (SSBF) and a former NBA star. Deng, who fled South Sudan as a refugee and went on to have a successful 15-year career in the NBA, has been the driving force behind the Bright Stars’ ascent to becoming one of the top teams in Africa.
“It’s a very similar story to what South Sudan is as a country right now,” Deng told the crowd, drawing parallels between the team’s journey and the nation’s struggles. He expressed hope that the Bright Stars’ participation in both the Olympics and the Basketball World Cup in August last year would inspire the youth of South Sudan. “A lot of people don’t give us chances, a lot of people don’t believe in us, but because of what we are doing, people have started seeing potential, and we’re on our way,” Deng said, underscoring the team’s determination to continue their progress on the world stage.
Deng’s impact on the team is undeniable. During his NBA career, he shined in the Chicago Bulls jersey from 2004 to 2014, earning two All-Star selections in 2012 and 2013. His leadership has been instrumental in guiding the Bright Stars to their Olympic debut, a journey that began with a victory over Puerto Rico and included a memorable warm-up game against the United States in London on July 20.
Although South Sudan’s dreams of an Olympic medal were dashed when they faced the United States in the northern French city of Lille, where the US won decisively with a score of 103-86, the team’s journey has just begun. “Everybody has been part of this journey, and this is just the beginning,” said Bright Stars player Nuni Omot. “You know this is the start of something that’s going to be special.”
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