Acouth signs on for stint at Kings
Parents’ selfless act gives former refugee a chance to do them proud
BASKETBALL DENG Acouth will never forget the day he separated from his parents, because he hasn’t seen them since.
Acouth was six when he reluctantly left his refugee camp in Kenya for a new life in Australia.
With a tremor in his voice, emphasising the emotion of the topic, he recalls the pain he felt being forced to part ways with his mother and father.
Now 20 and happily living in Sydney with his uncle, a day rarely goes by when he doesn’t think about his parents and their selfless act.
“It is tough without my parents but I’m used to it now,” Acouth told News Corp.
“They are in South Sudan but I talk to them regularly on the phone. I also send them money to help.
“I’m playing for them because I wouldn’t be here without them giving me their blessing to leave for a better life in Australia.
“I remember it being rough in the refugee camp but I was only young, so I didn’t really notice it and I just had fun ... There were times when we weren’t able to eat and it was a struggle.”
Acouth no longer has to scrape for basic essentials like food and water, thanks largely to his uncle Jacob.
He lives a blessed life in the western Sydney suburb of St Marys.
Now just four years after taking up basketball, the seven-foot South Sudan forward has picked up a development contract with the Kings for the 2017/18 season after impressing at the franchise’s Rookie camp earlier this year.
Sydney Managing Director Jeff Van Groningen believes Acouth has the physical attributes and attitude to achieve at a high level. Did the Cairns Taipans beat Perth last night? www.cairnspost.com.au