South Sudan basketball win unites 'every single tribe'

Bul Kuol plays his professional basketball in Australia, the country where he grew up as a refugee

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."

'It means everything'

Peter Jok scored 11 points and grabbed six rebounds in the win over Puerto Rico

Peter Jok, one of the veterans in the side, agrees that South Sudan's basketball heroics continue to paint the country in a "positive light".

"It means everything," said the 30-year-old.

"That’s why we’re going to keep working hard, keep going and try to represent back home for everybody to be proud and stay together.”

Jok, who plays for the Ottawa Blackjacks in the Canadian Elite Basketball League, was also delighted by the way in which South Sudan successfully executed their strategy against a team who beat them at last year's Fiba World Cup.

“We owe them," he said.

"From the start, we were ready to go. I’m glad we got the win.

"Now, we’re going to celebrate the game today and move on. We’ve got to be ready for the USA in a couple of days.”

South Sudan face the reigning Olympic champions on Wednesday before finishing off Group C against Serbia on Saturday.

A third-place finish in the group could be enough to advance to the quarter-finals.

With one victory already in the bag, Kuol has one eye on progressing.

"Our goal is to advance to the second round. Today was a good step forward.”