The Central Equatoria State basketball season 2021-2022 has begun with twelve teams battling it out in the capital, Juba.

It is organised by the Central Equatoria State Basketball Association in collaboration with the South Sudan Basketball Federation (SSBF) under the theme “Together be a sustainable, resilient, and inclusive basketball game free of hate beyond the COVID-19 period”.

The tournament marked the revamp of the Central Equatoria Basketball Association, which has not been active for the past two years due to COVID-19, lack of facilities, and financial constraints.

Addressing the media on Tuesday, the President of the Central Equatoria State Basketball Association, Dr Khalid Moral, said the tournament was expected to last for 18 weeks with at least six games a week and the winning team would be awarded at the end of the 132 games.

“South Sudan is gifted in terms of basketball players. This has been reflected in a number of players in the international professional basketball leagues. We have seen them in America and Europe, Australia and elsewhere in Africa, ” said Dr Marol.

“We don’t want to enjoy being the only active basketball association within the Republic of South Sudan. We hope that the South Sudan Basketball Federation will take all the necessities to facilitate the operationalization of other state associations, ” he added.

According to Dr Marol, basketball is the least considered sport despite its potential to compete and grow beyond the borders.

He called on leaders to support basketball teams in the 10 states and three administrative areas through the identification and selection of the best players to represent the country in any international tournament.  

Dr Marol said South Sudan was facing challenges in obtaining infrastructure to exploit the basketball potential in the country with 9 out of 10 states plus administrative areas inactive.