A team of National Basketball Association legends arrived in South Sudan for the third time since the independence to develop the game and get it growing among students.
The team of four led by Vice President for Development with NBA Africa, Amadou Gallo Fall, arrived in Juba on Saturday to spend one week of training sessions.Mr. Amadou told SCR News today during training at Juba One Primary School that the NBA chose South Sudan to honour late basketball player Manut Bol who died before the referendum.
He said the NBA wants to ensure that Bol’s legacy lives on in South Sudan.
Mr. Amadou added that South Sudan has a great potential to develop the game.
The students attending today’s training were aged between ten and 13.
Mr. Amadou said training students from a tender age is crucial to instil discipline and other values in the athletes.
The secretary general of South Sudan Basketball Federation, Acuil Malith Banggol, said the sport will unite the players into the basketball tribe.
He added that the federation’s motto is One ball, one goal, one nation, and the players learn teamwork to be able to compete.
Mr. Malith added that the federation cares for the physical and social development of its players.
He said South Sudan is ready to take on America in a basketball court.
Among the NBA legends doing the training is Dikembe Mutombo, a retired Congolese who played for the Houston Rockets.
Mr. Acuil said the experience of NBA legends may allow South Sudan to be ready to compete in the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio, Brazil.