US Monastir returns to the BAL with a retooled roster featuring Deng Acuoth, Tarekeyi Edogi, PJ Hardy, Osiris Eldridge, and legend Radhouane Slimane. Blending youth and experience, they’re chasing glory in the stacked Sahara Conference.
Last Updated on
April 26, 2025
The first of the additions they made is the South Sudanese Deng Acuoth. The forward who is playing for MTV Sports in Lebanon will bring some rim protection and experience. He recently missed a triple-double by two blocks when he scored 17 points and caught 14 rebounds. He brings a lot of experience as he also represented South Sudan in the FIBA World Cup in Manila in 2023. The second but equally notable addition is Tarekeyi Edogi.
The Nigerian star, who has played in Switzerland and Greece, amongst many other countries, will dawn the beaches of Dakar with his talent. His explosive nature will leave many defenders running away from the rim, as he is notorious for his ferocious dunks. He will also add another layer of offense for the Tunisian side.
The Monastir-based side has also acquired the talent of PJ Hardy. The 6’1 guard, who has had much success in the EuroLeague, has spent some time getting acquainted with his new team. He has been with the side since the start of the season and has dazzled with his slick playmaking abilities and sharpshooting. They have also added the veteran American point guard Osiris Eldridge. The point guard will bring balance and creativity to the team. The American point guard brings a vast knowledge of international basketball, especially after his stint in Turkey.
The one area this team does not struggle with is leadership. They are still led by the African legend Radhouane Slimane, who still defies father time. The icon, who turns 45 later this year, mentioned how he still trains for 7-8 hours a day to play at the level he requires. They have found a good balance between the youth and the experienced.
They have added the Senegalese forward, Babacar Sane. The 21-year-old, who stands at 2.01m, will strengthen their defence while adding much value to their offence. They said Ahmed Bedoui, a 17-year-old Tunisian while keeping some names from their championship side, such as Mourad El Mabrouk, Mehdi Sayeh, Mohamed Ghayaza and Firas Lahyani.
The former champions begin their campaign against the hosts, ASC Ville de Dakar. They know the task ahead of them as they are in a difficult pool with the defending champions, Petro de Luanda, and debutants, Kriol Star. They will rely on their championship pedigree and team synergy to get them over the hump through to Pretoria.
[Photography Courtesy of BAL/Instagram]
