Three days of preparation and the centimeters of the Dinka: the feat of South Sudan, the poorest country in the world

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apologizes

and, according to the photos and videos on Instagram, the last few days have been more than hectic in Juba, the capital of South Sudan.

When his basketball team landed in the city, a very long caravan of cars followed the bus all afternoon, there was a long night party at the National Football Stadium and in the days that followed, celebrations, and more celebrations, and more celebratory events.

What did they celebrate?

That for the first time South Sudan will play a basketball World Cup.

In reality, for the first time South Sudan will play a World Cup in any sport.

In soccer, it has never even managed to be in the Africa Cup and to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games it only sent two athletes, the minimum, both invited.

In basketball, on the other hand, the country with the worst Human Development Index surpassed Egypt, Senegal or Tunisia 10 days ago and qualified for a tournament where the United States, Spain, Serbia or France will be measured.

“It is a milestone for our country.

We are very proud that South Sudan is spoken of in a positive way, I cannot describe how special it is," explains Ajou Deng, the team's manager, and the brother of Luol Deng, a former NBA player and key, essential

. , essential in the South Sudanese success.

From exile to success

In his biography is the history of his country.

Because the problems, the reality and the illusions of South Sudan, the youngest country in the world, independent from Sudan in 2011, come from the very long Second Civil War from which the Dengs fled when Luol was only eight years old.

In 1993, when his father was released from prison after being imprisoned for his political position -he was a parliamentarian-, the whole family moved to Egypt and had a really bad time there.

Bullying at school, racism on the street, a difficult adaptation with one consolation: basketball.

had also fled to Cairo.

, the 7-foot-3 center who wowed the NBA in the 1980s and 1990s, and day by day, month by month, he became the on-court mentor to the eight Deng brothers.

Neither came to fit in Egypt, but they had the ball.

And that is why one of them, Luol, after passing through London, ended up becoming an NBA star, a two-time All Star and a conference finalist in 2011 with the Chicago Bulls.

From having nothing to a life of luxury.

Although he always had the thorn to help in his land.

When he was at the top, due to the situation in South Sudan, he never played with his team, he competed with the United Kingdom in the 2012 London Games and was barely able to set up an annual campus in Juba.

But then... "His dedication, knowledge and passion explain what the team has done both on and off the court", comments his brother, Ajou, about the work of the Deng Foundation, the Deng Academy and above all about Luol Deng's work in the South Sudan Basketball Federation.

Lots of talent, lots of height

President and coach since 2019, with his contacts, especially with the help of the United States Agency for Development, he managed the resources to bring together all the South Sudanese scattered around the world and found a great team.

Several refugees in Australia, such as

or

, others in Europe, such as

, current Ourense player of LEB Oro, and others in the United States, such as

, in the G League.

The genetics of the Dinka tribe, that of

, that is, with many centimeters, and a previous concentration of only three days were enough to get the ticket for the World Cup.

And now that?

"This is just the beginning.

In our country there has been talent for a long time.

Now we are rebuilding the generation that was born in the Civil War," says Ajou Deng, who assumes that South Sudan's goal in the World Cup will be to achieve a victory, at least one victory.

To do this, the team may have the help of Manute Bol's son,

, a player for the Orlando Magic,

now with the Los Angeles Lakers, or

, a former NBA player now in the Chinese League.

"This team has no limits," Deng concludes, still in a party atmosphere.

The last few days have been more than eventful in Juba.

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