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The Bright Stars, who began their preparations for Paris at the end of last month, will play Puerto Rico, the United States and Serbia in the group stage.<\/p>\n
Their task is daunting, given the USA are 16-time gold medal winners – including at the past four Games – and have assembled one of the greatest basketball teams of all time.<\/p>\n
Dubbed ‘The Avengers’ by the sport’s fanatics, the squad includes NBA stars LeBron James, Steph Curry, Joel Embiid and Kevin Durant.<\/p>\n
“They are the best in the world and it’s a tough group,” said Deng.<\/p>\n
“But, for us, it’s something special with the talent that we have.”<\/p>\n
So how can South Sudan match up with the best in the world in the long term?<\/p>\n
“We do have the product, but we don’t have the facilities to produce great players,” Deng added.<\/p>\n
“We can get good players but if we want great players at a number that we want, and the coaches [with] the knowledge, we must invest.<\/p>\n
“I grew up in the UK and I went to the US. I had great coaches and the best facilities. I’m still a product of Africa, but the reason why I made it was because I was over there.<\/p>\n
“So, for us to be in Olympics and compete is great, but to be where they are\u2026 we’re not there yet.”<\/p>\n
The Bright Stars tuned up for Paris with an 84-81 win over Great Britain before falling to that 101-100 defeat against the USA in London.<\/p>\n
“They tested us and it was a competitive game,” USA forward Anthony Edwards said after their clash at the O2 on Saturday.<\/p>\n
“They have got some good players. They showed us we can be beat.”<\/p>\n
Now the aim for South Sudan is to make further history in the French capital.<\/p>\n
“Everyone has been celebrating us since we qualified,” Deng said.<\/p>\n
“That’s all done. You have to have that mindset of ‘We have got to accomplish something else now’.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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