Yesterday, the National Minister of Youth and Sports, Dr. Joseph Geng Akech, officially opened the 13th edition of the South Sudan National Cup, which includes 24 clubs divided in to three zones namely Aweil, Juba and Renk.
At the opening, the chairperson of the Organizing Committee for the tournament, Mr. Wiyoul Lampouch, appropriated the fans for turning up in big numbers to give support to their teams in the competition.
He also extended his appreciation to the president of the federation for the support given to the committee and said that the president is working hard to support the committee with ideas to continue with its activities, pointing out that the tournament only lacks sponsors to increase the revenues of clubs that are participating in the tournament.
Wiyoul called on national companies to support sports especially football for a great future.
Meanwhile, SSFA president, Mr. Augustino Maduot said that the tournament is very important because it brings people from all over the country and the world together.
He added that teams get a lot of experience in such competitions which also helps them improve their level of playing soccer
He also aired out challenges facing sports especially football which needs proper facilities for running the activities and also financial support to provide the necessary sports materials.
Augustino Pointed out that the federation is working tirelessly to develop youth football through the current youth championship, which is being held for the first time in the country.
The federation will certainly stand with the ministry for the success of the state championship which is scheduled to be held soon by the federation in collaboration with the National Ministry of Youth and Sports, Maduot said.
Maduot thanked the National Minister of Youth and Sports, Dr. Joseph Geng Akech, and the state governor, Emmanuel Adil for attending the opening of the South Sudan Cup.
The governor of Central Equatoria State, Emmanuel Adil stressed out that sports in general in the country is always to unite the people. Adding that, Central Equatoria State is still concerned with the necessity of consolidating peace and peaceful coexistence in the state through sports.
Adil said that despite the difficulties faced in the country, the state will support sports to young people the opportunity for foreign representation.
” I ask the president of the federation to work hard to prevent violence in our stadiums because sports is an element for uniting people and I also want to direct the necessity of evaluating all sports stadiums in the state and leaving them only for practicing football and other sports in the state”, Emmanuel added.
Finally, The National Minister of Youth and Sports, Dr. Joseph Geng Akech said that the directives of the president of the Republic is for him to work hard to unite the youth through sports and necessarily work to develop the capabilities of the youth in the country.
He also indicated that the Ministry is putting much effort into finding a sports uniform law through which crisis will be implemented.
Everyone will work according to the sports law and the private sector will be involved through the law to support sports in the country, Joseph said.
He pointed out that the Ministry has a plan to establish a national championship to unite youth in cooperation with the football federation, noting that there are great challenges facing sports, especially from the financial standpoint.
” We can face these challenges with hard work and positive thinking ” Joseph added.
He praised the Football Association and their role in developing football in the country.
The opening ceremony was witnessed. by Rita Dominic, Minister of Youth and Sports Central Equatoria State, and Mr. Edward Satimon, Director General at the National Ministry of Youth and Sports.
