Although I usually do not write about sports, and despite being a follower of both local and international basketball, my analytical experience regarding the performance of our national team in the AfroBasket tournament is limited. Nevertheless, the disappointment of the fans after the team’s early exit with a record of one win and three losses cannot be overlooked. This performance, which seemed average and unsatisfying to the supporters, reflects several factors beyond the players’ control on the court.
One of the main factors was the significant absences in the team. The national team missed key players such as Carlik Jones and Wenyen Gabriel, along with the emerging talent Khaman Maluach, who recently joined the NBA. These absences clearly affected the team’s coordination and performance in the tournament, making it difficult to compensate for the experience and skills of these players. Despite this, the team gave its best effort and displayed moments of brilliance that show potential for future development.
This early exit should serve as an opportunity to reconsider basketball development strategies in South Sudan. Focusing on local leagues is essential to ensure a strong foundation of talented players. Establishing a comprehensive national league can help discover and nurture local talent, creating athletes capable of representing the country effectively in international competitions, even in the absence of professionals playing abroad.
Investing in a national league is not a luxury but a necessity for building a sustainable future for basketball in the country. Local talents, if properly discovered and developed, can form the backbone of the national team in the years to come. This approach also creates greater opportunities for youth to compete and improve, while enhancing the presence of basketball in the community, which positively reflects on national performance.
Moreover, it is important to approach this setback with optimism. South Sudanese fans are not only disappointed but also hopeful about the future of the national team. The current performance, though below expectations, provides an important lesson: sporting success requires patience and long-term investment. This experience should motivate the federation, managers, and coaches to focus on strengthening the foundations of the game within the country.
In the end, the national team will come back stronger, and the future holds greater opportunities for growth. Basketball in South Sudan is in a natural phase of development, and by focusing on local talent and providing proper support, the team can become a strong contender at both continental and international levels. The fans, through their support and encouragement, will remain an essential part of this journey toward achievement and will witness the rise of a new generation of players capable of raising the nation’s name high in the sports arena.
Writer, Michael Keer is a sport lover and a concern patriotic Citizen