South Sudan upbeat despite modest campaign in African Champions Cup Zone 5 qualifiers

JUBA - South Sudan, the newest country in the world has made remarkable progress in trying to catch up with the rest of the African continent in terms of growth and development of the hoops game.

At the recent FIBA Africa Champions Cup Zone 5 qualifiers, South Sudan was represented by two teams including National Engineering and Citizen in the men's category.

Despite not registering a win in their respective groups, the two club sides put up a fight in every outing showing promise and improvement as they reshaped their image in the East African region as true competitors.

Citizen shooting guard Lual Athieng epitomizes the South Sudanese's determination to put the country’s basketball on the African basketball map.

"It is good to participate in tournaments like the Zone 5 Clubs Championship because it gives us the opportunity to get exposure against teams from the other countries," Athieng offered.

"We are a young country but we have more players abroad and if we can get them together then we can compete against the other teams in Zone 5."

They are so confident with themselves that Athieng believes they can take on bigger nations.

"Our target is to qualify for the FIBA AfroBasket 2017 in Congo. It will definitely be difficult but we have to give it our best."

Meanwhile, South Sudan Basketball Federation Secretary General Acuil Malith Banggol insists they are working to promote the game at all level and genders.

Banggol said: "We are also looking at improving the women's game but from the grassroots level so we have identified some players, from upper primary and secondary schools across the country. We have also sent six girls on basketball scholarship to Mombasa Secondary School in Kenya, one of the best in the region," he explains.

South Sudan gained independence in 2011 and played their first game against Ugandan club Power who won 86-84 in a closely contested game in Juba.

FIBA