South Sudan basketball President to continue serving until next year’s election

By Benjamin Takpiny

The South Sudan basketball federation President Luol Deng will continue serving until elections are conducted next year.

 “In part of my press conference, this is very important, serves to clarify in clear terms the following three items. First, I’ll respond to my recent ministerial directive, dated 27th November 2023, in which I directed the President of South Sudan Basketball Federation to organize elections in accordance with their constitution. The Minister of Youth and Sports wishes to clarify that until such elections are held in February 2024, the current leadership of the Federation, led by Mr. Luol  Deng and his executive will continue to stay in office,” said the National Minister of Youth and Sport Dr. Joseph Geng Akech during press conference held in Juba on Tuesday.

He encouraged the basketball federation to carry on with the basketball activities across the country, especially preparing the national team for the Olympic Games to be held in 2024 and also at other international duties and matches.

 Akech asked Luol Deng to continue organizing initiatives and projects of the Federation.

 “The Ministry avails its goods offices, resources and efforts to assist the Federation with any administrative challenges that they may be facing in due process of preparing for the elections, Olympics preparedness and other matters,”Akech said.

He underscored the government of South Sudan’s unwavering commitment to support the Federation in preparing for the national basketball team Olympics.

“This press conference serves in the first place to note in clear terms that the government of South Sudan, under the leadership of His Excellency  Salva Kiir Mayardit ,the President of the Republic of South Sudan, through the Ministry of Youth and Sports,is proud of the great achievement of the South Sudan Basketball Federation, notably the national main team’s performance in the recently concluded Basketball World Cup qualifications, in which they have qualified for Olympics to be held in France,” he said.

Akech said that their  team is the only African team that automatically qualified for next year’s Basketball Olympic Games.

He added that the government and people of South Sudan are proud of this historic achievement.

Luol  Deng, President of South Sudan basketball federation welcomed the decision made by the Minister of Youth and Sports.

 “ I’m very happy today with our minister’s decision, this allows me and allows my office to be able to work and focus on basketball and move forward Yes, there are things that some people are unhappy about But at some time, you’ve got to see the majority of the country and what the majority of the country wants. And if that decision was made the other way, I would turn my back and look the other way. But when you’re caught up on your people because they see the right results and what we’ve got to keep accomplishing, we’ve got to keep on moving forward. So let’s not dwell on these small issues that are going on the side,” said Deng.

“I decided and I made a commitment After my retirement, to come back home in South Sudan and to develop the game and do my best from the knowledge that I’ve learned all over the years to take us to where we can be, i don’t think we are there yet, but I’m very happy with the results so far in being number one,” he added.

Deng said there have been a lot of things circling in the media which are full of misinformation.

“I think, first of all, it’s important for us, for everybody, to realize what we’ve just achieved in the last three years, We’ve achieved something that nobody ever did in the history of the world, not just Africa, not just Europe, not anywhere in the world So we need to be careful with when we say dysfunctional or the Federation not operating There are a few individuals I’m not going to go into too much detail,” he said.

 Deng said that there are a few individuals that are unhappy, but that does not mean that the federation is not functional.

He said the things that they’ve achieved, such as getting out of Zone 5, being the best in East Africa, going to Afro Basket, going to the World Cup, winning the qualification 11-1 record, and going to the Olympics are there for all to see.

“Also, we had our girls team compete for the first time, we had teams from South Sudan go and compete outside of South Sudan, we’ve been able to build basketball courts in different states. We’ve been able to have a women’s league. And that’s all without having a basketball court,” Deng said.

 He said that his frustration comes from not being able to appreciate the things that they’ve achieved.

“ We need to realize and we need to be careful of how we call things dysfunctional or things are not working, The Federation has been amazing I want to give credit to everybody that worked with me because a lot of attention has been taken away from them”.

  He said that a lot of people are attacking his personality for no clear reasons, adding that they are instead ruining the basketball game.

“I think historically, I can make a choice where I fight back with individuals and I make rational decisions, but that’s not why I’m here. I’m here because everybody, the energy that we’ve received, how happy the country has been, how supportive the government has been, we cannot lose the stake,” Deng said.

He that they cannot lose what’s important to them and what they’re trying to do.

 “At the end of the day, everything that we do is for the youth of South Sudan and the development of sports in South Sudan,: Deng said.