Deng Academy awards league winners

Deng Academy’s three league winners have been awarded trophies after a six-month competition.

The honors were presented at Deng Academy’s 5th Annual Award event on Saturday in Juba.

Last year July, the academy inaugurated three basketball tournaments including the Luol Deng Development League (LDDL), the Manute Bol Development League (MBDL), and “Her Time,” the first-ever females’ basketball League was inaugurated on October 16, 2021.

The Luol Deng Development League (LDDL) was won by team Terekeka, while the Manute Bol Development League (MBDL) was won by the Kapoeta team, and “Her Time,” the first-ever basketball game for girls, was won by team Kajo Keji.

The Academy also presented other categories of awards where the first category of awards was given to the league’s most improved players, most disciplined players, and most hustlers.

Meanwhile, the second category went to the league’s best guards, best defenders, best centers, second-place teams, and best team spirit.

The third award went to the academy’s best educational achievement, while the fourth was an appreciation award for the players of the three leagues, which included leading players, most committed players, coach of the year, staff of the year, and other honors. 

Speaking at the award ceremony Dr. Albino Bol Dhieu, the Minister of Youth and Sports, hailed the Deng Academy administration for their efforts in raising and training young players to become strong players in the future.

“In light of the government’s spirits, I would like to express my gratitude to all of the participants, teams, and coaches who have been working tirelessly to ensure that our children are exposed to select the most promising basketball players,” he said.

Dr. Albino also thanked the Luol Deng Foundation’s partners including the United States Agency for International Development, Stanbic Bank, and others, for their tremendous support in sponsoring young kids in basketball and education.

He hinted that basketball is a business and a game that can improve people citing the late Manute Bol and the current President of the South Sudan Basketball Federation Luol Deng. 

“I feel that the lives of young people who have progressed in their jobs and demonstrated their abilities will never be the same,” Dr. Albino stressed.

“Especially for the kids we have seen today playing basketball with a lot of love, joy, and respect, their lives, as well as their families, will change naturally,” he stressed.