South Sudan Sport Thread

[chiefayic2]

Cecafa welcomes South Sudan

By Collins Okinyo | 09 May 2012

South Sudan has become the 13th member of the Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations (Cecafa).

Consequently, Africa’s newest state will be eligible to compete in all regional competitions sanctioned by Cecafa.

South Sudan were recently declared a republic following a peaceful referendum that separated them from Sudan.

"We are happy to officially welcome South Sudan to the Cecafa family and now they are eligible to participate in all organised Cecafa competition henceforth."

"As Cecafa we are very happy to have another member to join our expanding family and we know this will be an added advantage and will bring more competition in regional tournaments organised by us," Secretary General Nicholas Musonye told SuperSport.com.

South Sudan will now participate in the under 17 tourney, Kagame Cup and the Cecafa Senior Challenge Cup which are held annually.

Link

[chiefayic2]

[chiefayic2]

James Moga to Pune FC

Sunday, May 13th, 2012 |

Sporting Club's South Sudan striker James Moga who scored 10 goals for Flaming Oranje this season is all set to make a move to Pune FC after the red lizards approached him following the reported departure of Keita, their leading striker this season.

Indian football transfers

[Blue Lou]

How many clubs are there in South Sudan's Championship ?

[chiefayic2]

I don't know the exact number. I think there are around ten first division teams. However, the championship also includes second division teams...which number, I don't know.

[chiefayic2]

Al-Salam FC to represent South Sudan in CECAFA

Sunday, 13 May 2012 03:37 Lagu Francis Sport >>>


south sudan unAl-Salam Football Club of Wau, Western Bahr al Ghazal State has been chosen to represent South Sudan in the Council for East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA) tournament.

The tournament is scheduled to take place in June in the Kenyan capital city, Nairobi.

Speaking to Radio Miraya on Saturday, the Vice President of South Sudan Football Association (SSFA) Yuhanis Mussa said Al-Salam was chosen because they were the champions of South Sudan's tournament of 2011.

"The Emergency Committee held an annual meeting and we chose Al- Salam Wau Club as our representative to CECAFA tournament," said Musa.

"The committee chose Emanuel Paulino Alexander as the head of delegation".

Musa said SSFA will support Al-Salam by providing the team with all the necessary requirements. "We will support Al-Salam Wau club with all the sports equipment and the preparation of the team".

Al Salaam Football club becomes the first football club to represent South Sudan at an International tournament since its secession from the north in July last year.

Miraya FM

[chiefayic2]

South Sudan joins Fifa 10 months after independence

News Date: 25th May 2012


South Sudan has become the 209th member of football's world governing body Fifa. The African country was voted into full membership by delegates at Fifa's annual congress in the Hungarian capital Budapest.



Having gained independence last July, South Sudan joined the Confederation of African Football (Caf) in February.

The team will now be eligible to play in the qualifiers for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations and 2018 World Cup.

"I want to assure you that we are going to follow the statutes and regulations of Fifa and obey the law of our good game," said South Sudan FA president Oliver Mori Benjamin in an acceptance speech.

"In particular, we are still suffering from war, so we promise that we will develop football to fight against war, hunger and poverty.

"I want to assure you that in my state in South Sudan, Abyei, we are still in a war zone but I promise in a few days, we are going to raise the flag of Fifa in Abyei for the good of our people."

South Sudan and Sudan have been blighted by conflict in recent times, with peace talks between the two nations due to resume next week after several border skirmishes and bombardments.

Benjamin also thanked Issa Hayatou, the Caf president, for South Sudan's rapid rise into the global football family.

"I want to thanks the president of Caf for our admission to Caf in Gabon [in February] - we are really so happy and satisfied under your leadership in Africa.

"I would like to thank the Sudan national association for football for your fruitful co-operation and for your acceptance of our membership in Caf."
South Sudan has been able to join Fifa just 10 months after independence thanks to a change in the body's statutes.

Previously, any new state had to be a member of its confederation for two years before being eligible to join Fifa.

South Sudan's FA had previously been told that the earliest it could become a Fifa member was 2014.

But delegates gave a 98 per cent "yes" vote to the proposal to admit the South Sudanese in Budapest on Friday.

In a friendly game organised as part of the independence day celebrations in July 2011, a South Sudan side lost 3-1 to Kenyan team Tusker FC.

Link

[chiefayic2]

Great work by Mr. Oliver and the team.....

[chiefayic2]

[chiefayic2]

South Sudan to play friendly match with Gabon

By: Muna Tesfai | Monday, 28 May 2012

South Sudan Football Association (SSFA) said that Gabon Football Association has invited South Sudan for a friendly match.

Speaking to journalists at Juba international air-port on Sunday upon his arrival from the Budapest FIFA conference, the president of SSFA, Chabur Goc Alei, said the association will also arrange friendly matches with other neighboring countries.

"We will participate in CECAFA under 17's and we are going also to arrange for friendly matches between Uganda, Kenya and other neighbouring countries" Alei said

"...Gabon Football Federation (GFF) offered to assist us and we are going to play a friendly match and GFF will provide us with all equipment."

Goc said FIFA pledged to support SSFA with financial assistance to develop football in the country.

Meanwhile the Minister of Youth, Culture and Heritage, Cirino Hiteng, said that South Sudan is recognized worldwide and can play at regional and international level.

Hiteng confirmed his commitment to work together with the new association to meet the international football standard.

Miraya FM

[bh2010]

Originally Posted by chiefayic2

[chiefayic2]

Uganda to share Olympic experience with South Sudan

Muna Tesfai | Thursday, 07 June 2012

OlympicThe secretary general of the Uganda Olympic Committee, Peninah Kabenge has arrived in Juba.



Kabenge flew in on Thursday to hold a series of meetings with sports officials in the country and also meet with representatives from local sporting associations. Speaking to Radio Miraya at Juba international airport upon arrival, she said her visit to South Sudan is to share her country's Olympic experience and find ways in which the two countries can corporate in the field of sports.

Miraya FM

[chiefayic2]

NU lands big man from South Sudan, reportedly Luol Deng's cousin

By Teddy Greenstein | June 15, 2012

Northwestern has secured an oral commitment from an intriguing player, 7-foot-2 center Chier Ajou who reportedly is a first cousin of Bulls forward Luol Deng.



A source confirmed Ajou has been admitted to Northwestern but the NCAA has yet to rule on his eligibility. Ajou moved from South Sudan to the U.S. in December 2008, making the early years of his transcript a challenge to interpret.

If he is ineligible as a freshman, he is slated to redshirt.

Before offering its final spot to Ajou, Northwestern tried to get talented guard Mislav Brzoja into school. But despite his earning a 4.0 grade-point average as a senior at Traders Point Christian Academy, he was turned away because of his standardized test score and/or a spotty academic record in his native Croatia.

Ajou gave New Mexico coach Steve Alford an oral commitment in the fall of 2010.

The source said he was not certain why Ajou re-opened his recruitment but that he "absolutely" could handle the rigors of Big Ten basketball next season.

ESPN.com wrote of his strengths: "This extra long and lean center is very raw but tough to deal with when he is active and aggressively patrolling the lane. He is a shot changer and blocker on or away from the ball because of his great length and ability to cover ground very quickly."

And his weaknesses: "He needs to improve his strength and hands but he can finish above the rim with a clear path from offensive glass put-backs or drop-off passes. Ajou is a work in progress but has great upside and will always be a factor when he is in the game due to his size and mobility."

Northwestern had a horrendous minus-6.6 rebounding margin last season. The next worst Big Ten team, Nebraska, was at minus-1.

By adding TCU transfer Nikola Cerina, freshman Alex Olah and possibly Ajou, the Wildcats are poised to own the glass. At least on some nights.

Ajou grew up in South Sudan, not far from the deadly conflict in Darfur. He reportedly attended the Culver Military Academy in Indiana in 2010-2011 before completing a post-graduate year at St. Thomas More School, in Oakdale, Conn.

Basketball coach Jere Quinn told the Norwich (Conn.) Bulletin: "He's a kid that's difficult not to love. He's a poster child for overcoming an extremely challenging and difficult childhood. But yet, he has remained positive all the time. He really endears himself to people."

Link

[chiefayic2]

21km 'marathon' is organized for Independence day

Muna Tesfai | Friday, 15 June 2012

South Sudan Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports is organizing a 'marathon' as part of activities to celebrate the country's first Independence. The marathon will be held in Juba, on the 7th of July – two days ahead of Independence.



The race will cover 21km for professional runners, 10 km and 5km for juniors.

The minister of culture, youth and sports, Cirino Hiteng Ofuho, explained to journalists that the Ministry has organised other sport events to mark Independence.

"During the first anniversary of our independence we will have a Juba marathon on 7th July and on the 8th July we will have the basketball finals and on the 10th we will have a football match".

Annie Mungoma, from United Agency Limited is the event coordinator. She explains that the objective of the marathon is to celebrate Independence as well as identify talents in South Sudan.

"We are looking at developing talents in South Sudan because we know athletics is one of the most popular sports all over the world, and we want to develop athletics in South Sudan, by identifying good runners and marathon runners."

Miraya FM

[chiefayic2]

South Sudan set for international debuts at Cecafa cups

By Emmanuel Muga BBC News, Dar es Salaam

South Sudan will make its international debut at this year's East and Central African regional championship, the Cecafa Senior Challenge Cup.



Before that the world's newest country will send a side to next month's East and Central Africa Club championship in Dar es Salaam, according to Nicolas Musonye, the secretary general of the regional governing body.

"They have confirmed their participation; they will send a team called Wau Salaam FC," Musonye told BBC sport.

"We are glad to welcome them as our new members and they have also assured us that their national team will participate in this year's Cecafa Senior Challenge Cup as well."

South Sudan, which only became a member of football's world governing body - Fifa - last month, already has its own league.

Their national side will be made up of players from both the local league and the one in neighbouring Sudan.

This year's club championship will kick off on 14 July in Dar es Salaam and will be sponsored by Rwanda President Paul Kagame for a 10th year.

Under Kagame's sponsorship, the prize money for the event totals US$600,000.

BBC

[chiefayic2]

First South Sudanese football player signs contract in Khartoum

By Hassan Farouk | 18.06.2012

KHARTOUM - For the first time since South Sudan’s independence, a South Sudanese player signed a deal with a football team in Sudan.


Signature ceremony of Atir Thomas’ transfer to Al-Ahly al-Khartoum Club at the offices of the Football Association June 6, in Khartoum.
© Al-Sahifa | Omar Jaddo

On June 6, the offices of the Sudan Football Association witnessed the first transfer of a player from South Sudan to Sudan. Al-Ahly Club has managed to sign a contract with player Atir Thomas as the first foreign player.

Before joining in as a foreign player, Atir Thomas was a famous player in Sudan with his former club, al-Hilal. He was a major asset in the national team.

Following the signing ceremony, Atir Thomas made press statements, in which he said he came from Juba to Khartoum at the request of Sudan’s al-Hilal Club, but due to jammed transfers, he couldn’t sign with the Club.

“An agreement has been reached between me and Al-Hilal Club officials to join the team during the major transfer season in December.” Atir explains, “for this reason I have decided to join the Khartoum al-Ahly Club for a six months term”.

Meanwhile, the player praised his new club, affirming that it is a big club and has a number of high caliber players.

The Nile

[chiefayic2]

South Sudan to debut against Cranes

20 June 2012, 18:00

South Sudan will play their first official match against Uganda on July 10, nearly two months after they joined FIFA on May 25.

The South Sudan Football Association announced the friendly match on Wednesday, which will also coincide with the first independence anniversary of the east-central African nation.

South Sudan was admitted as FIFA’s 209th member during the 62nd edition FIFA Congress held in Budapest, Hungary last month.

It also became a CAF member in February this year. The South Sudan Football Association is chaired by Mr Chabur Goc Alei

SuperSport

[chiefayic2]

CECAFA confirms twelve clubs for club championships



Council for East and Central African Football Association (CECAFA) secretariat has so recieved confirmation from twelve clubs for participation in this year's club champions in Tanzania. The tournament that is set to be played between 14th July - 28th July in Dar Salam attracts league champions from the region. Hosts Tanzania will be represented by three clubs that is defending champions Yanga FC, Simba SC and debuntants Azam FC. For the first time in history , newly created nation South Sudan will also be represented at the tournament by Wau Salam FC. Other clubs that have confirmed participation include URA FC from Uganda, Rwanda's APR, 2008 Champions Tusker FC, Mafunzo FC of Zanzibar, Atletico FC from Burundi, perenial participants Elman of Somalia and Ports FC of Djibouti. Only Sudan (northern) is yet to confirm a club representative amongst the nations in the region but there is still hope giants El merrick or Al Hilal will take part. The championship is sponsored by Rwanda president Paul Kagame who has invested $ 60,000 as prize money to be shared amongst the top three performers with winner bagging $ 30,000, runner up $ 20,000 while the third team bags $ 10,000. The games will shown live on Supersport.

Link

[chiefayic2]

PFC ready to unleash Moga

Posted: Jun 24, 2012 at 0105 hrs IST

Pune Continuing with the trend of bringing in world-class players, PFC has roped in 29-year-old James Moga, who will fill in the void created by the departure of Guinean Mandjou Keita. The Nimule-born striker will team up with PFC for the 2012-13 season after he parted ways with Sporting Clube de Goa. He represented the Goan side with flair last season, netting 15 goals in 19 I-League appearances and ending as the fourth top-scorer of the league.

At 6’2”, Moga is the tallest striker to be signed by the club since the Elite League in 2009-10. Chirag Tanna, PFC head of operations, said, “We are delighted to rope in James and he is crucial to our future plans. He is a world-class player, a good finisher and a proven performer at club and international level. He is a strong player and will provide us with good attacking options.”

His penchant for scoring regularly is an asset to every team he has played for in the past.

Tanna added “We are happy to have him in our midst and are hopeful that James would continue his form with PFC.” Apart from an impressive club career, Moga has made 14 appearances (only World Cup qualifiers) for Sudan, where he scored three goals since making his debut as a 17-year-old in 2000.

Moga, at PFC, joins India Under-22 skipper Jeje Lalpekhlua, Singam Subash Singh and Jeh Williamson and forms a four-man strike-force for coach Derrick Pereira.

The South Sudan striker is currently with the national team camp in the capital city of Juba preparing for a friendly against Uganda on July 10. Having signed the deal, Moga said, “signed for PFC as it is a big team and Pune is a good place to stay in India, especially for my family.”

More Here

[chiefayic2]

This is not just good for Moga only, it's also great for South Sudan football.