South Sudan's Olympic Hopes End After Disputed Refereeing
Ayize claire
Monday, August 5, 2024
South Sudan's Olympic basketball Team
South Sudan's Olympic basketball dreams were dashed as their coach, Royal Ivey, criticized the officiating in their final Group C match against Serbia. The game ended in a 96-85 loss for South Sudan, eliminating them from qualifying for the men's quarter-finals. South Sudan finished third in their group, but Greece secured the last quarter-final spot on points difference.
Coach Ivey expressed his frustration with the referees, highlighting the disparity in free throws and fouls between the two teams. "I need an answer. Explain it to me.
I'm baffled," Ivey said. "My guys are out there giving their all - blood, sweat, and tears. And you tell me how we shoot six free throws. We shot one free throw in the second half."
Ivey recounted his attempts to communicate with the referees, only to be met with resistance. "They gave me a technical foul; they told me they were worried about my bench standing up. They were worried about me crossing the line instead of refereeing the game."
Ivey emphasized the inconsistency in the calls, saying, "My guy goes up for a shot, they go underneath him. They are grabbing jerseys. So call them both ways then. It was blatant tonight. And I had to keep my cool because they threatened to throw me out of the game."
The South Sudan team, known as the "Bright Stars," has been significantly shaped by the efforts of former NBA All-Star and president of the country's basketball federation, Luol Deng. Deng questioned the absence of African referees at the Olympics.
"I don't know why there are no African referees at the Olympics. This is 2024. I don't know what the reason is ... if we're representing the continent, we have to be represented fully."
Deng agreed with Ivey's assessment of the officiating, noting that the calls against South Sudan's players seemed "deliberate and blatant." He highlighted the challenge of matching Serbia's aggressive style of play without being penalized. "We couldn't be as aggressive as they are. I know that Serbia is known for basketball. They've been great for many years. The way they play, it's almost like the ref knows them. As soon as our guys play their style, we're getting fouled every time."
Despite the loss, Deng remained optimistic about the future of South Sudan's basketball team.
"I'm not here to make excuses. We are going to keep on working and I guarantee you we will be back and we will be better ... but it was not fair tonight."
The South Sudanese team's journey to the Olympics was marked by determination and resilience, and while their 2024 bid ended in disappointment, their resolve to return stronger remains unwavering.
