The Bright Stars of South Sudan has arrived in Rwanda to prepare for the upcoming Paris Olympics in France.
The team, which includes NBA star, Bol Bol of the Phoenix Suns, will spend a week in Kigali, training at the BK Arena. The 2024 Olympic Games will commence on July 28th in Paris, France. South Sudan will compete in the men’s Olympic basketball tournament for the first time, facing some of the world’s top basketball teams, including the USA and Serbia.
The team will stay at Onomo Hotel during their time in Kigali. South Sudan is also the only representative from Africa who qualified for the Men’s Basketball team. They are in Group C where they will play World Champions United States of America, Puerto Rico and Serbia.
Despite being the basketball world’s youngest country, the Bright Stars have made significant strides in their 12 years of existence. They reached the quarter-finals of FIBA AfroBasket 2021 and qualified for the FIBA World Cup 2023, where they earned a spot in Paris 2024 as the highest-placed African team (finishing 17th).
Twenty-five players have been invited for the training which includes Deng Acuoth, Deng Adel, Emmanuel Akot, Koch Bar, Bol Bol, Sunday Dech, Majok Deng, Wenyen Gabriel, Mareng Gatkuoth, Peter Jok, Carlik Jones, Kuany Kuany, Bul Kuol, Junior Madut, Thon Maker, Makur Maker, Jackson Makoi, Khaman Maluach, Mangok Mathiang, Lat Mayen, Kouat Noi, Nuni Omot, Marial Shayok, JT Thor, and Aher Uguak.
