By Kitab Unango
After almost a year since the plan was laid out in September 2022, work has finally started on building a world-class basketball court in South Sudan’s capital, Juba.
The ceremonial groundbreaking at St. Mark Orthodox Primary and Secondary School in Munuki, a suburb of Juba kick-started the construction work.
It is expected to be completed within the next two or three months.
Mr. Karbino Awad, who represented Vice President for Gender and Youth Cluster, Rebecca Nyandeng underscored the importance of the court in fostering unity and peaceful coexistence among the polarized South Sudanese societies.
Mr. Awad made the point that South Sudanese have the ability to make the country a sports powerhouse, but they won’t be able to realize this goal until the government prioritizes sports as an effective social cohesion factor.
“Sport is the only effective unifying factor in our country and I would like to take this opportunity to call on the national government to allocate a budget for sport in South Sudan.”, Mr. Awad appealed.
Arek Ajou Deng, the CEO of the Luol Deng organization, pleaded with well-wishers to donate money so that the organization could expand its programs to all ten states and three administrative regions, where youth can be involved in sports to shun hostilities and foster long-lasting peace in South Sudan.
“This is going to change many lives (because) it is going to develop the culture of togetherness, teamwork and cooperation among students who will change the narrative of our country,” Ajou said.
“What we need is support to reach all the states and cities in South Sudan.”
The Court, which is intended to benefit students from at least 30 schools around Juba, will offer training to under 18 boys and girls basketball players, coaches, and as well act as a unifying factor to the polarized societies in South Sudan.
The Court is the first of its kind in the youngest African Nation, South Sudan and is part of multilayers cooperation between the National Basketball Association (NBA) Africa, Stanbic Bank and Luol Deng Foundation to establish the first-ever National Basketball Association Youth League in the country.
