Basketball in Africa

By Charles Mutebi and Usher Komugisha

INTERNATIONAL FRIENDLY MATCH
Power 86 S. Sudan 84

TODAY: FUBA LEAGUE
DIVISION 1: MEN
Canons v Rhinos
WOMEN
Rangers v Nabisunsa

SOUTH Sudan’s national men’s basketball side lost their first ever contest 86-84 to Uganda club champions Power on Wednesday.

If that surrounds historic, it probably is.
South Sudan gained independence from the North on July 9 and this basketball game was part of celebrations to mark the occasion.
The friendly contest took place two days later than earlier scheduled because Power’s air tickets arrived late from their hosts.
The game was almost cancelled even after Power’s arrival in Juba because South Sudan’s new national sports stadium was not yet ready.
But the match finally went ahead and Power ended on the winning side of this small piece of history –– in the full glare of Chicago Bulls star Luol Deng.
“It was good especially playing against guys who are 6ft and above,” said Power captain Isaac Afidra. “They will be a basketball force very soon.”

UCU Canons' new signing Jachin Wettstone from the United States will make his debut against Charging Rhinos as the national basketball league continues at YMCA, Kampala today.