Paris dreams now reality for Dech

Adelaide 36ers swingman Sunday Dech will represent South Sudan at the Paris Olympics after being named in the Bright Stars’ 12-man roster this week.

Dech and his 12 teammates will create history in Paris this Sunday night when the Bright Stars make their debut against Puerto Rico.

The 195cm swingman said the match will be a surreal moment not only for himself, but for his country.

“This will be something special, from where South Sudan has come from, this is a huge moment in our journey,” Dech said.

South Sudan is now known worldwide after the Bright Stars came oh so close to upsetting Team USA in a pre-Olympic friendly in London, going down 101-100 last weekend.

The Bright Stars put the world on notice 13 years after South Sudan officially became an independent state, coming one LeBron James basket away from an historic win.

But, South Sudan have another chance to topple the Americans, when the Bright Stars play Team USA again in the group stage on August 1 and then will have to face Nikola Jokic and Serbia.

“We have got the pool of death, we got USA and Serbia, but it’s an opportunity,” Dech said.

“The USA have put together the best team they’ve had for a very long time and Serbia have the best player in the world in (Nikola) Jokic.

“It’s something you can look back on in like 5-10 years and say ‘we played against them’, it’s going to be a really cool experience.

“We are making history as a country, we are there (at the Olympics) and we get to go up against the best players in the world.”

South Sudan's climb to international success began at FIBA AfroBasket in Kigali, Rwanda in 2021, then their first FIBA Basketball World Cup in Manila, Philippines in 2023 and now their first Olympic Games in Paris, France in 2024. 

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Dech got ready for South Sudan Olympic training camp by playing for his junior club East Perth Eagles in NBL1 West.

“Coming back home and touching base has been massive,” Dech said.

“We won the championship a decade ago, to come back 10 years later and to be older, wiser, and to give back is something I cherish and don’t take for granted.”

Unfortunately for the Eagles, Dech won’t be finishing the full season, but East Perth did make the playoffs and face an Elimination Final against Rockingham Flames this weekend.

“The goal was to win as many games as possible and get the guys into a playoff position before I leave, but I have full confidence we can go on and push for some success,” Dech said.

South Sudan Paris 2024 Olympic Schedule

South Sudan v Puerto Rico
Sunday, July 28 - 6,.30pm

United States v South Sudan
Thursday, August 1 - 4.30am 

Serbia v South Sudan
Sunday, August 4 - 4.30am