Sudanese refugee chases basketball dream in Australia

When Manyiel Wugol makes his debut in the NBL1 in April it will complete an emotional basketball journey spanning three continents.

Wugol is signed to the South West Slammers, part of the western conference of the NBL1 competition. 

Wugol and his family fled war-ravaged Sudan when he was a child before spending his early years in Kakuma Refugee Camp, Kenya. 

Along with his mother and nine siblings, Wugol was granted refuge in Australia where he grew up and worked to support his family from the age of 12.

In his late teens he was introduced to basketball and sought to follow the footsteps of cousin and Australian Boomer, Thon Maker, before bouncing around the American collegiate system due to a number of complications.

But when you ask Wugol, the smiling and chipotle-loving 198cm guard is just happy to be pursuing his craft. 

That dream is now a reality back in Australia where he hopes to impress players and coaches for a shot in the NBL.

"It's been a long time coming. I just cannot wait to put everything I've worked on into the season," he told AAP.

"Being back in WA where it all started is a full-circle kind of moment."

He was last in WA in 2014 with his dreams taking him to Melbourne then the US.

His family have watched from afar as Wugol chases a goal of professional basketball and he's never played in front of them live.

"Playing back in Australia, this will be the first time any of them see me play," he said.

What will certainly be front of mind for Wugol this season is his dedication to slain best-friend Alier Riak.

Riak signed for the Darwin Salties in early 2022 but had his life cut short on his birthday after being fatally stabbed in Melbourne.

The pair played for the same junior club in Western Australia and both had dreams of playing professional basketball.

"He was in this position right before he was murdered - they just stole that from him," Wugol said.

"Every day I wake up and go to the gym I feel blessed knowing that I can continue this dream for not only me, but for the both of us."

Part of that dream is one day representing South Sudan internationally and on the world stage.

The Bright Stars qualified for the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup on Friday for the first time, following an 83-75 win over Senegal. 

Wugol hopes to join a string of South Sudanese NBL players in representing their country of birth.

"That would be the biggest honour of my basketball career," he said.

"I would love to have South Sudan across my chest.