Olympic basketball: South Sudan team a “shining light” to the nation

South Sudan’s victory over Puerto Rico in the Olympic men’s basketball competition has “united” the country, according to forward Bul Kuol.

The Bright Stars, 33rd in the world rankings, opened their Group C campaign with a 90-79 win over their higher-ranked opponents on Sunday.

The result has been a huge source of pride for the world’s newest nation – on what was the team’s first appearance on the Olympic stage.

“It brings us together,” said the 27-year-old after the match.

“No matter what tribe you’re from or what you’re facing – adversity, the war, or whatever.

“It’s like every single tribe, every single town has been united.”

Carlik Jones led South Sudan’s scoring stats with 19 points, with Kuol adding 12 of his own along with three assists and three rebounds.

“It’s a massive win for us at our first ever Olympics,” he said.

“To get it done in the first game, it sets the tone for what we’re trying to do.”

Like many of the players in the squad, civil war in South Sudan meant Kuol spent part of his childhood growing up in a refugee camp before moving from Kenya to Australia in 2006 when he was nine years old.

He believes the team’s maiden success in Paris is helping the nation write a new, more positive chapter in its history.

“It’s a new beginning for all of us. The next generation now has a platform to grow on – and this is it right here.”