By William Madouk
Council of Ministers has approved $6.5 million to cater for South Sudan’s senior men’s basketball team and fans to participate in the FIBA Basketball World Cup.
The event is slated for August 25 to September 10, 2023, in Japan, Indonesia, and the Philippines.
National minister of youth and sport, Dr. Albino Bol had on Friday presented a report requesting a budget to cater for the basketball team, fans, and folklore dancers that would be traveling to Asia.
Meanwhile, government spokesperson, Michael Makuei Lueth, said the budget was vital that the cabinet was prompted to approve it without hesitation.
“The minister requested a sum of 6.5 million dollars for the team to go and bring for us the World Cup, which was brought here last time,” Makuei told reporters on Friday.
“It is not enough that we have seen it; we want to bring it back to South Sudan. So, the cabinet approved that amount,” he added.
The minister explained that participation south Sudan allows the players to showcase their talents while conducting training in Melbourne, Australia, and also in the United Arab Emirates, before the match.
Cabinet also directed the minister of finance and planning to expedite disbursement of the budget immediately.
The South Sudan senior basketball team is the first East African team to qualify for the FIBA World Cup, incurring only one loss to emerge a top of the competition for the global event.
The team will face China, Puerto Rico, and Serbia at group stage.
In late May, 2023, the FIBA World Cup trophy arrived in South Sudan as part of a tour in countries whose teams have qualified to participate in the FIBA Basketball World Cup event.
South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir who received the World Cup trophy in his office in Juba, directed players outside the country to join hands with the national team to ensure success.
He also wished the national team luck and urged them to bring the trophy home.
Earlier, the South Sudan Basketball Federation also confirmed that the team will head to Melbourne, Australia, to participate in Boomers vs. World from August 14–17.
The four-team tournament will feature South Sudan, Brazil, Venezuela, and hosts Australia and be played at the Rod Laver Arena from August 14–17, 2023.