South Sudan threat to Kenya teams
By OSCAR PILIPILI IN MBARARA, UGANDA
Sudanese are known world over for their love for basketball.
Be it in the United States of America, England and France, these tall, slender and dark figures dominate the sport like colossus.
In Kenya, leading boys’ basketball teams like Laiser Hill, Nairobi International School and St Austin’s Academy have at one time paraded one or more Sudanese in their teams.
Favoured by height which is first talent in basketball, the sport is to Southern Sudan like what athletics is to Kenya and losing a competition is akin to taboo for them.
These breed of players have never missed to appear at any Brookside East Africa Secondary Schools Games be they playing for teams from their country or other regions.
And they are expected to appear in this year’s edition at Mbarara, Uganda with a difference.
Southern Sudan has every reason why they should cause opponents including Kenya restless nights at the Championships.
First, encouraged by their runners-up position through Bentiu last year, teams from Juba have gained extreme confidence and they are likely to aim at the top on this occasion.
Southern Sudan has participated in the last two editions of the games as guests and this is the first time they have come as an independent Nation after promulgation that separated them from North Sudan.
Kenya,who are defending both boys’and girls’ basketball titles are not taking lightly the advances of teams of Southern Sudan and Burundi in the juniors’ competition.
Kenya will be represented by Maseno, Laiser Hill and Friends Schools Kamusinga for boys and Tigoi, Shimba Hills and Laiser Hills for girls.
Going by history, contest for girls could be a Kenyan affair but recent indicators signal that Nairobi boys must work hard to achieve good results. For Burundi and Southern Sudan to bag silver in 2009 and 2010 speaks volumes.
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