Sydney Kings guard Jackson Makoi reveals the powerful perspective behind South Sudan’s historic World Cup tilt
Millions sacrificed their lives for the planet’s youngest country, South Sudan. Now, on the cusp of qualifying for the nation’s first World Cup, Sydney Kings guard Jackson Makoi reveals the powerful perspective inspiring the team.
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Sydney Kings guard Jackson Makoi will forever have vivid recollections of the day his mother told him that she dodged bullets to give him a better life.
Mrs Makoi fled war-torn Sudan for Egypt with her family after seeing entire villages innocently wiped out all in the name of war.
All she could do was duck for cover as bullets narrowly avoided her head.
“Mum saw everything,” Makoi told News Corp.
“She witnessed people coming into her villages and killing kids, mothers, and families – no matter their age.
“A lot of the killing was because of tribalism between the south and north Sudanese people, which was unfortunate, but that is the truth.
“Mum has told me stories about bullets flying everywhere, and not knowing if she was going to live or die.
“She tried to cover the kids and just keep her head down. Hearing stories like that sends chills down my back.”
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As Makoi can attest, there are countless South Sudanese people now living all over the world who have experienced a similar journey to his mother.
It’s why he says there is something special about representing South Sudan on the international basketball stage.
The Sudanese are one win away from qualifying for the 2023 World Cup after beating Egypt in late August.
According to Makoi, the South Sudan side needs little outside motivation to qualify for the nation’s first World Cup.
“Because millions and millions of people have died just for us to be a country,” said Makoi, who was born in Egypt before moving to Melbourne at an early age.
“We weren’t an independent country until 2011, so being the youngest country in the world and being able to make history like this is special.
“I didn’t go through the things that my mother, uncles and older siblings endured in Sudan.
“Even guys on my team now have seen crazy things and lived through the trenches and the hardest times.”
This is more than basketball. 🇸🇸â¤ï¸ pic.twitter.com/G4aqQ4RA2a
— South Sudan Basketball (@SSBFed) August 30, 2022
The power of representing South Sudan was personified when thousands of adoring fans packed Juba Airport to welcome the team home after their historic win over Egypt.
The players received a rock star reception, with chants, signing and a sea of iPhones on camera mode.
“Obviously, I’m not a famous artist, but I felt like Michael Jackson in front of his fans,” Makoi reflected.
“People were screaming and chanting.
“It’s hard to explain the amount of joy that moment brought to my heart.
“South Sudan has been one of the most war-torn countries for so long. There have been so many conflicts, civil wars and so many lives lost, and families displaced.
“So, that’s our biggest joy, to be able to bring smiles to people’s faces across the nation.
“It is still a surreal feeling. I never thought that I’d be in this position playing in something that is bigger than us.”
Some hoops experts didn’t expect South Sudan to be competitive, let alone win games to be on the cusp of the nation’s first World Cup appearance.
Makoi revealed his team was inspired to defy the doubters after receiving a pre-tournament sledge from rivals Senegal.
“Senegal reached out before training camp and said: ‘we’re coming for you guys’,” he said.
“They are considered one of the top teams because they have an NBA player and guys playing in the EuroLeague.
“We were the underdogs.
“I don’t want to say that teams looked down on us, but there was always that feeling before a game about how much an opponent respects you or how much they think they can beat you by.
“It was more of a feeling that we felt, and we all spoke about it as a team.”
— South Sudan Basketball (@SSBFed) August 29, 2022
Makoi, though, can see the positives of rivals calling out South Sudan.
“It was good for us to hear a team like Senegal saying they are going to bring their A-game,” he said.
“We needed that reality check.
“Despite coming up against these situations, we’ve prevailed time and time again.”
South Sudan’s success on the international stage has been boosted by a strong NBL contingent in the side.
Bul Kuol (Cairns), Deng Acuoth (Adelaide), Majok Deng (Cairns), Sunday Dech (Adelaide) and former United big man Jo Lual-Acuil Jr have all donned Sudanese national colours.
Makoi, who picked up the Player of the Game in South Sudan’s win over Egypt with a 14 point and two assist performance, believes the team’s NBL presence has played a leading role in their triumphs to date.
“It has been very big, because the NBL is one of the most respected and toughest leagues in the world outside of the NBA,” the 22-year-old said.
“Being able to prove to yourself that you can play at that international level just shows other people that these NBL guys are serious.
“Then when we come to these international tournaments, everyone in the team is highly respected because of players on our team who have played in the NBL.
“Having those guys on the team is amazing because they always come through for us.”
It’s been a memorable four years for Makoi.
The Melbourne-raised guard had US stints with Lee College and Daytona State College between 2019 and 2021.
📺 Game is now live on YouTube!
— South Sudan Basketball (@SSBFed) August 27, 2022
SHARE THE LINK:https://t.co/77PMsjFl6Hpic.twitter.com/XV59fPpZ3x
This paved the way for Makoi’s first professional contract with KK Vrijednosnice Osijek in Croatia last year.
Now he is back in Australia after signing on with defending NBL champions the Sydney Kings as a Development Player for the 2022/23 season.
“The Kings are literally changing my life as we speak,” Makoi said.
“They are making me a better person, on-and-off the court.
“I haven’t been with the Kings for very long, but I’m really enjoying the process.
“Every single day I can feel the difference in myself getting better. I can see the difference in my game, my confidence is building.
“I’m just so grateful that the Kings have given me the opportunity.”
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