Love Island star comes out of ‘retirement’ to return to former club at 33 as fans say ‘definitely didn’t predict this’

FORMER Love Island favourite Ovie Soko has returned to the London Lions after 19 months without a team.

Basketball star Soko, 33, had captained the Lions during the first half of the 2022-23 campaign, before leaving mid-season due to persistent injury issues.

X/ LondonLions

Ovie Soko has re-signed for the London Lions[/caption]

Rex

Soko, 33, appeared on the fifth season of Love Island[/caption]

In April 2023 reports surfaced that the forward had retired from basketball, although he later denied them on social media.

Nevertheless, Soko went without a team for the entirety of last term, instead working as a British Basketball League (BBL) pundit on Sky Sports.

He has now completed a shock return to the game, signing on for his third spell with the Lions, based out of the Copper Box Arena in East London.

The Lions have undergone huge changes since Soko’s previous departure.

Last month they were taken over by tech hub Tesonet, having gone into administration under former owners 777 Partners.

In July, the BBL lost its license from the British Basketball Federation – with 777 having owned 45 per cent of the previous league.

This left the future of top flight basketball in the UK uncertain, until the emergence of the new Super League Basketball, which will replace the BBL.

Tesonet’s purchase of the Lions has saved top flight basketball in the capital, leaving club president Lenz Balan scrambling to put together a roster ahead of the start of the domestic season later this month.

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Former general manager Brett Burman departed over the summer, with the Lions not set to play in Europe this season.

Despite the upheaval, they did manage to retain the services of head coach Petar Bozic, as well as title-winning players Jordan Taylor, Kareem Queeley and Ciaran Sandy.

The Lions signalled their intent by signing Cheshire Phoenix star Aaryn Rai earlier this month, with the guard having finished second in MVP voting in the final BBL season.

While Soko’s return marks another ambitious move.

Responding to the news, one fan wrote on social media: “His socials have been talking to a ‘come back’ all summer but I definitely didn’t predict this, wowza!!”

While British basketball commentator Daniel Routledge simply commented: “What???”

Former BBL champion and Sky Sports pundit Drew Lasker added: “Well…. I wasn’t expecting this.”

Soko reposted the Lions’ announcement to his Instagram Story, but has not yet commented on the move.

The 6ft 7in star gathered a huge social media following during his Love Island stint in 2019, during which he came fifth alongside India Reynolds.

In addition to Britain, he has played basketball professionally in France, Greece, Italy, Spain and Japan.

PA

Soko came fifth on Love Island alongside India Reynolds[/caption]