Basketball for Unity: South Sudan, Somalia meet in rare encounter away from home
South Sudan and Somalia recently met in a one-of-a-kind basketball match in Nairobi. Players from Somalia flew in from the United States for a regional tournament that involved the two teams from conflict zones.
It was the much-anticipated match of the six-national basketball tournament in Kenya’s capital, Nairobi.
Players from both sides, lined up for a historic meeting that brought the two countries together, away from home, much to the delight of the fans.
The kick off marked perhaps the first time in recent history that basketball has united the two sides in a friendly battle. The fixture attracted people from each side, eager to cheer their team.
“The Mogadishu team, nine of the ten players all flew in from Minnesota, from different parts of the united states because they are living overseas,” Michael Finley, Director of Africa City Challenge Basketball, told CGTN Africa.
“Juba also, they have great athletes, [and] they [have] got guys who have been in the NBA, they [have] got tons of guys in college and they are passionate about the game. So having them here, coming from two conflict countries, is really special and it brings a different element to the tournament.”
The Africa City Challenge Basketball tournament also brought teams from Kenya, Somalia, Uganda, South Sudan and Tanzania.
A very rare encounter. A basketball game between Somalia and South Sudan. Sporting events between these two countries are few and far in between.
The Somali community in Kenya, most of whom fled the war in Somalia, were here for their team.
“I felt at home when I got off the plane, and I am just happy about everybody being here, supporting us, you know. If they were not here, I don’t think we would be winning,” said Hanad Abdi, a Somali basketball player.
Liban Abdi, another player representing Somalia, said: “Most of us came from Minneapolis. We are hooked together, we are all neighbours, you know. So we all practice together, we play in our travelling teams, so that is where we learned our skills.”
The Somalia team beat South Sudan and finished third in the tournament behind Kenya and Uganda, but dreams were bigger than score lines.
“We are going to have some NBA players. We actually have some NBA players right now, South Sudanese right now that play – Thon Maker, Luol Deng, they are there. So, as it grows, I think we are going to have some more, not just in the NBA, but overseas, even in Africa, everywhere,” said South Sudanese basketball player, Athiey Deng Luol.
Bushara Rajab, South Sudan’s coach, was in high-spirits regarding the tournament.
“We came here to try to make good [of] something,” he said.
“But we lose games, but that is not the end. That is the way we have to go to grow.”
The tournament may have ended for these players from countries ravaged by conflict, but memories from this unifying moment were taken away to be shared among friends and family.
