South Sudan’s basketball team gets SSP65 million cheque from MTN for ‘tremendous’ performance

JUBA – South Sudan’s basketball team ‘Bright Star’ has received at least SSP65 million ($100,000) from telecom company MTN in honor of their performance at the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup qualifiers, according to a statement.

On August 29, the team defeated its Arab Republic of Egypt counterpart 85-65 in a match played in Tunisia, elevating the world’s youngest country to only one win away from qualifying for the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup.

Following their victory against Egypt, the team was welcomed at Juba International Airport upon return from Tunisia by thousands of cheering citizens who see the team as a uniting factor in the politically divided country.

Last month, the MTN promised to sponsor the team in light of their performance.

In a statement this evening, the mobile operator said that it has handed over a cheque of SSP65 million to the basketball’s President Luol Deng as promised earlier.

“Earlier today MTN Group Senior Vice President Ebenezer Asante Handed over a cheque of 65,000,000 million SSP Equivalent to 100,000 USD to South Sudan Basketball Federation President Luol Deng as the Sponsor of the National Basketball Team ‘Bright Stars’” MTN said in the brief statement.