In basketball, South Sudan faced the United States in London on Saturday for an Olympic preparation match between the two teams who will face each other in 9 days in the group stage since for the first time in its history, South Sudan has qualified for the Games.
2 min
With our correspondent in London, Sara Menai
In an O2 Arena won over to the cause of the American stars and facing the heavyweights of this USA team, the South Sudanese did not demerit. They held their own for a long time before losing 100 to 101 to the American team.
Leading 100 to 99 at the end of the last quarter with 20 seconds to play, they even believed in it until the end. But this Saturday evening, it was not so much the result that was the most important since Wenyen Gabriel and his teammates made their team proud and impressed American coach Steve Kerr.“When you look at all the obstacles they’ve overcome, it’s incredible what they’ve been able to do. They have a team full of talent and their story is truly incredible,” he said.
6,000km from Juba and its war that left 400,000 dead, the Bright Stars embody the hope of an entire generation for what their country could be in times of peace and what young South Sudanese people hope for today. “My parents came here as refugees, my life was difficult at South Sudan“So for me it’s something that brings joy, that makes us proud, it’s a wonderful feeling,” says a young woman from the diaspora.
” “This is perhaps the most important year in our history since independence. When you come from a country that is so divided, basketball for us is more than a sport, it unites an entire people,” says another.
“Basketball is global, there is no place in the world where basketball is not watched, it is a blessing. This sport brings people together and unites us as brothers and sisters. Basketball can take you places you never thought possible,” LeBron James reacted for his part.
In less than a week, the Bright Stars will be at the Olympic Games from Paris to make a little more history for their sport and their country. South Sudan’s entry into the Olympic Games will take place in Lille, in the north of the country. France. She will play next Sunday against Puerto Rico before the rematch against the United States.