South Sudan’s cabinet on Friday approved 6.5 million U.S. dollars to sponsor the basketball team ‘Bright Stars” in World Cup final.
Speaking to reporters after the cabinet meeting, Information Minister Michael Makuei said Michael Makuei said the government had allocated a sum of $6.5 million to Bright Stars to play at FIBA Basketball World Cup final.
“The minister requested a sum of 6.5 million U.S dollars for this team to go and bring us the world cup, which was brought here last time, and you have seen it. So it is not enough that we have seen it but we want it brought back to South Sudan,” Makuei said.
“So the cabinet approved that amount and directed the minister of finance to make sure that this money is paid so that our team and all the participants go and participant in the world cup competition,” he added.
Makuei, who is also the government spokesperson, said the money will be used to facilitate fans to travel to Asia for World Cup final as well as the training for Bright Stars.
“Our team has done very well, we are now going to the world cup final, and if we are going to the world cup final, then that needs budget. Because with the participants, we need a team to go and administer them. And we will be taking our floor downstairs and we will be taking our fans as well to go and support our team and all these people will have to be transported,” said Makuei.
“Our team which will be going will be going to the United Arab Emirates for training there and then they will go to Australia for training and after which they will go for the final tournament in Asia,” he concluded.
In February 2023, South Sudan qualified for the upcoming 2023 FIBA World Cup for the first time in the country’s history.
Three players have played in all 10 games and are averaging at least 11 Performance Index Ratings (PIR).
Bright Stars defeated Senegal 83-75 and clinched a spot in the basketball fiesta in The Philippines, Indonesia, and Japan later this year for the very first time in the country’s history.
FIBA Basketball World Cup final 2023 will take place in the Philippines, Japan, and Indonesia from August 25 to September 10.