By Otto Abut
The National Minister of Youth and Sports Doctor Joseph Geng Akech has directed the South Sudan Basketball Federation to maintain Lual Deng as the president of South Sudan Basketball Federation until February 2024.
Doctor Joseph Geng said on Tuesday that the extension of Luol’s term as the SSBF president is to enable him to prepare the Basketball team for the upcoming Olympic competition expected to take place next year in France.
Unconfirmed reports on social media had revealed that the General Assembly of the South Sudan Basketball Federation has suspended the president, Luol Deng, over his alleged failure to respond to meetings call as his four-year term ended last month 24th November.
Minister Joseph said that the ministry encourages the federation to carry on with the basketball activities across the country especially preparing the national team for the upcoming competition to be held in 2024
“The Ministry of Youth and Sports wishes to clarify that until such elections are held in February 2024, the current leadership of the federation led by Mister Lual Deng and his executive will continue to stay in office.”
The Minister also reaffirmed his ministry’s commitment to continue supporting the basketball activities by availing offices, resources and efforts to assist the federation with any administrative needs that may arises in due process of preparing for its election and Olympic competitions.
Meanwhile the President of the South Sudan Basketball Federation Mr.Lual Deng welcomed the minister’s decision for allowing him to lead the basketball team until February 2024.
He asserted that he would have turned his back with the decision made but due to the minister and public demand, due to the trust and the positive results he achieved, he would continue to serve while preparing to hold elections in the right manner.
“And if that decision was made the other way, I would turn my back the other way but what you are caught up by your people because they see the right results and what we are accomplishing, we got to keep on moving forward.” Luol asserted.