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South Sudan’s victory over Puerto Rico in the Olympic men’s basketball competition has “united” the country, according to forward Bul Kuol.<\/b><\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt brings us together,” said the 27-year-old after the match.<\/p>\n
“No matter what tribe you\u2019re from or what you\u2019re facing – adversity, the war, or whatever.<\/p>\n
“It\u2019s like every single tribe, every single town has been united.”<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a massive win for us at our first ever Olympics,” he said.<\/p>\n
“To get it done in the first game, it sets the tone for what we\u2019re trying to do.”<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
He believes the team’s maiden success in Paris is helping the nation write a new, more positive chapter in its history. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a new beginning for all of us. The next generation now has a platform to grow on – and this is it right here.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n