South Sudan Sport Thread

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Obij Aget | New Mexico

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South Sudan supports Kenya bid for Cecafa Challenge Cup

South Sudan Football President Ghabur Goc Alel has supported Kenya in its bid to host this year’s East and Central Africa Senior Challenge tournament.

"We are surprised that the CECAFA secretary general Mr Nicholas Musonye is envisaging plans to force Uganda to be the hosts. We as a new member of the regional body were informed initially that Kenya were the hosts after it was passed in the CECAFA Congress, and up to now we have not received any other official communication regarding the change" he said.

"We shall lobby other member countries, he added, to ensure that decisions made in the congress are respected and the Secretary General should stop playing politics.

He said this when he paid a courtesy call at the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) chairman Sam Nyamweya at the Nyayo Stadium secretariat on Monday.

The Confederation of Africa Football CAF has also read malice on the move to award Uganda the hosting rights and said that they will throw their weight behind Kenya.

The current stand-off is a result of the forthcoming CAF elections where the CECAFA Secretary General is supporting Issa Hayatou challenger during the polls.

South Sudan have confirmed their support for the incumbent and has been joined by three other members including Kenya.

"We want continuity and we believe that Hayatou has contributed a lot for the development of African football .Kenya is ready and has the facilities to host this year’s event and has even received funding from FIFA to rehabilitate the Kisumu Municipal Stadium one of the venues. We urge other members to support Kenya in hosting the championships" added Ghabur.

© copyright StarAfrica.com

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Inter-Schools Games | Updates

Wednesday, 29 August 2012

In a regional inter-school competition that is taking place in Burundi, South Sudan boys volleyball team beat Uganda three shots to nil while the Kenya girl volleyball team beat South Sudan three shots to nil.

In handball, South Sudan boys beat Burundi 37 to 27. In athletics, Viola Dario from South Sudan qualified for the girls 200m finals.

Meanwhile Alberto Williams qualified for the boys 400m finals.

And Issac Butrus has gone through to the final of higher jump and Juma Barnaba has also reach the final of long jump.

Miraya FM

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....They're going good, thus far.

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South Sudan embarks on football competition to promote peace and unity

August 30,2012 (JUBA) - South Sudan is organizing national football competitions in attempt to promote peace and unity amongst the young nations diverse ethnic groups often seen as divided by tribal conflicts usually associated to cattle theft.


Nahda Bentiu Club from Unity State (Photo: Northern Bahr el Ghazal State Ministry of Youth)

The country is also taking advantage of the exercise to meet requirements needed by international sports associations to gain membership of various organisations. South Sudan’s Football Association is organising competition between various clubs to find the countries best players and teams before finals are held in the capital Juba.

On 18 August Aweil Meriekh club from Northern Bahr El Ghazal State (NBGS) played Nahda Bentiu Club from Unity State. The first match was played in Aweil town, the capital of Northern Bahr el Ghazal, inaugurated by Tong Deng Anei, the state’s Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports. In other leg was played in Bentiu on 27 August.

With the winning team scheduled to play in the national semi-final 9 September was stiff competition.

Meriekh Aweil won both matches and will go on to play in the semi-final on 9 September in the capital Juba.

Garang Akok, Chairman of Meriekh Aweil Club, told Sudan Tribune on Thursday that he always had confidence in his team, which won the last game in Bentiu 2-1.


Aweil Meriekh club from Northern Bahr El Ghazal State (Photo: Northern Bahr el Ghazal State Ministry of Youth)

Abdullah Deng, Acting Director General in the ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture commended the competition and said his ministry encouraged the healthy competition.

He said that their experience of playing a high tempo passing game had made the team "professional and efficient”.

Garang Kuol, Chairman of Northern Bahr El Ghazal State Football Association, agreed with Deng’s argument about preparing adequately for matches.

Tong Deng Anei, Minister of Sports in Northern Bahr el Ghazal said he sees the football competition as an opportunity to promote peace and unity amongst various youth groups across the country.

“This is very important for the youth of the entire country and it should be done through fair competition among the young professional players”, Anei said in a statement.

The Northern Bahr el Ghazal minister further added that “one of importance aspect of this tournament was that it brought exchange visits between the young leaders and develops close relationship among them”.

He congratulated Aweil Meriekh Club for working hard to win and overcoming not only the other team but the treacherous muddy road between Rumbek and Bentiu.

"You have won the trust of the people of Northern Bahr El Ghazal State”, he said in a statement, encouraging the team to prepare "to face the strong teams that include, Akuach of Rumbek, Nasir of Juba and Meriekh Renk”.

He also thanked Nahda Bentiu for having taken their time to come to Aweil despite numerous logistical difficulties and for welcoming Meriekh Aweil in Bentiu.

“You don’t know how much we have appreciated the hospitality you accorded to the team," he added.

(ST)

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EAC keen to promote School Games


By Zephania Ubwani |Tuesday, 04 September 2012

The East African Community (EAC) plans to promote Secondary School Games in order to identify, nurture and develop sports talent in the region as well as enhance regional integration.

This was said by the Burundi minister for Primary and Secondary Teaching, Crafts, Professional Teaching and Literacy, Severin Buzingo, when he was closing the EA Secondary School Games and Sports in Bujumbura over the weekend. Over 2,000 students and 200 officials from Rwanda, Burundi, Kenya, Uganda and South Sudan took part in the competition. It could not be explained why Tanzania failed to participate in the regional tourney.

He hailed participation of the partner states and the Republic of South Sudan in the games, saying they (games) were contributing to the building of confidence among the youth and the people as well as strengthening the East African spirit and identity.

The Federation of EA Secondary Schools Sports Association (Feasssa) president Justus Mugisha commended the partner states’ ministries of education and sports for supporting the annual games and sports competitions among secondary schools in the region.

Mugisha noted that this year’s edition coincided with the 2012 Olympics in London where all the partner states participated and the region recorded a dismal three gold medals (Kenya 2 and Uganda 1). He said the annual competition provides the partner states a rare opportunity to prepare for future gold medals and “always remember that competition is the heartbeat of sports”.

He announced new changes in the structure of the games." With immediate effect the tournament will be for only students under 19 while new games are to be introduced, namely table tennis andbadminton and later swimming". He also announced that the next tournament will be held in August 2013 in South Sudan. A verification team will travel to South Sudan in December 2012 to assess the preparedness of the country to host the games. Should the country not be ready. the games will then be held in Rwanda, Mr. Mugisha added.

The Feasssa president decried the absence of teams from Tanzania for the last two editions and appealed for their participation in the Juba event next year.

EAC secretary general Richard Sezibera commended the ministries of education and sports under Feasssa for organising the games.

He said through the years the Partner States had shared historical, cultural and sports experience that need to be reaffirmed and reclaimed for “our cultural and sporting identity”, adding that “as a region we have continued to enjoy close educational, scientific, social, economic and cultural ties to our own mutual benefit”.

He noted that in East Africa sports had always been about inclusion and citizenship. Sports activities across the continent had brought individuals and communities together, highlighting the commonalities and at the same time bridging cultural or ethnic differences.

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Kudos to organisers for awarding the next Secondary Schools Games to South Sudan.

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South Sudan secures 3rd position in boys’ basketball

Sunday, 02 September 2012

The 11th edition of the East Africa secondary schools competitions concluded on Saturday in Bujumbura, Burundi.

South Sudan secured the third position in both boys' basketball and athletics finals.

In the boys football finals, St. Mary Ketende of Uganda beat Kisumu of Kenya one – nil.

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FIFA gives $1M to South Sudan football federation

Published 10:09 a.m., Wednesday, September 26, 2012

ZURICH (AP) — FIFA is to give $1 million to the South Sudan football federation to help its newest member build a headquarters in capital city Juba.

South Sudan was accepted as the 209th FIFA member in May and played its first recognized international match several weeks later, drawing 2-2 with visiting Uganda to be currently ranked No. 197th.

FIFA says its development committee has granted $500,000 from Goal Project funds to build offices and a playing surface in Juba.

South Sudan will receive an additional $500,000 from a fund targeting poorer members to help with "laying solid foundations for the new organization."

South Sudan became officially independent from Sudan in July 2011.

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2012 Cecafa Challenge Cup Draw

Groups

A: Uganda, Ethiopia, Kenya, South Sudan

B: Sudan, Tanzania, Burundi, Somalia

C: Rwanda, Malawi, Zanzibar, Eritrea

[chiefayic2]

That's a tough draw.....good luck to Bright Stars.

[Taharqa]

Great finally South Sudan in a continental football competition. I hope Sudan and South Sudan play each other but this only happens if they qualify in their groups. My second team will be South Sudan but I doubt that they can make it to the knockouts.

[chiefayic2]

Originally Posted by Taharqa

Great finally South Sudan in a continental football competition. I hope Sudan and South Sudan play each other but this only happens if they qualify in their groups. My second team will be South Sudan but I doubt that they can make it to the knockouts.

I know right! No matter what happens, South Sudan already won by being a participant On two Sudans meeting...well, anything is possible. But, if South Sudan ends up not making it out of group stages as expected......then, good luck to Sudan.

[Blue Lou]

CECAFA Cup squad named:

Juma Genaro
Deng Atiti
Miskeen Emmanuel
Jackson Mubaraka
Richard Justin
Thomas Jacob Mathew
Hassan Rifaya
Villion Silvestre Nimeri
Suleiman Martin
Atak Luwal
Khamis Martin
Jimmy Tombe
Johnson Deng
Adnan Nan
Atir Thomas
Kone James
James Joseph Moga
Khamis Liano
Lobar Zariba
Zachariah Atinasio

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Maldives club Maziya sign South Sudanese player Ladule Lako LoSarah

The 2012 Maldives FA Cup champions have signed the former San Diego Flash striker as it prepares for the new domestic season and the AFC Asian Cup.



By Khalis Rifhan | Feb 1, 2013

Maldives top-division club Maziya Sports and Recreation Club have beefed up their squad ahead of their local domestic season and the AFC Asian Cup by signing several players from the Maldives national team, as well as American-South Sudan player Ladule Lako LoSarah.

Maziya ended the 2012 season as league runners-up, but qualified for Asia’s second-tier club competition after they won the FA Cup by seeing off Club Eagles 2-1 in the final.

Singapore-based football management firm Trebol Sports International was responsible for securing LoSarah’s five-day trial in Maldives and the 1.91m striker impressed the club's management with his unique combination of technique, intelligence, speed and aerial prowess.

After putting pen to paper, the California native declared himself thrilled with the prospect of facing off against some of the best clubs in Asia.

"It's a real delight and [a] fantastic opportunity to sign for this club. Maziya is a model professional outfit with knowledgeable coaching staff, excellent facilities and equipment, strong front office support and most importantly, [they are] full of ambition," the 25-year-old said.

“I'm excited to be part of Maziya's maiden shot at continental glory in the 2013 AFC Cup. I look forward to improving my game through hard work during training and contributing to Maziya's title challenge and FA Cup defense with lots of goals this season.”

LoSarah previously played for Macedonian top-flight club FK Bregalnica Stip in 2010 before making the move to American fourth-tier regional league club San Diego Flash a year later.

Goal

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After fleeing from war-torn Sudan, Dau Jok becomes a leader at Penn

By Brian Kotloff | January, 30 |2013


Penn's Dau Jok escaped from war-torn Sudan and fled to Iowa when he was just 11 years old.

When Dau Jok returned to his native Sudan last summer, he saw desperation on his relatives' faces -- looks so wrenching they "make you want to cry on the spot," he says. Their voices carried with them two harrowing reminders: Fourteen years after his father's murder, Jok's family is still starving for someone to guide them out of the hell they're living. Fourteen years, and still the only man wired to replace Sudanese general Dut Jok remains his spitting-image son. "We're not going to cry as long as you're alive," they always told young Jok after his father, a rebel commander and sage, was killed, "because your dad is alive in you."

Jok wanted to visit his father's grave in Mayen Thon. His relatives prayed that he wouldn't, and he listened. Just one year into South Sudan's independence, the village had again been swallowed by the tribal and ethnic warfare that has plagued the nation since its birth -- most gruesomely pitting Africans from the south against Arabs from the north. So Jok brought his father's spirit back to the University of Pennsylvania, along with a realization: "Everyone's hope is on me finishing school."

Months later, he sits in the stands of the historic Palestra, wearing a basketball jersey and gym shorts. Here, he is nothing but a junior shooting guard on a 3-15 team. But Jok leaves little doubt that Penn has changed him, or at least allowed several parts of him to flourish: The activist, whose Dut Jok Youth Foundation, boosted by a $10,000 grant from winning the Davis Projects for Peace award as a freshman, aims to educate Sudanese youth through sport; the thinker, who studies Martin Luther King Jr. and Sun Tzu in his free time and regularly engages in hours-long debates with his peers; and the tireless worker, who shoots a jumper for every bullet he would have shot had he not fled for Iowa at age 11.

Now the boy who learned to write by scraping dirt with sticks is taking Linguistics, Logic and Global Justice. Now the visionary whose goal is "to be the most influential person in South Sudan" is receiving the education and developing the connections to inch toward it. And instead of tribesmen, he has teammates to do battle with, to rally and protect.

The doubts of others have fueled him since the kids in sixth grade teased him for the way he looked, dressed, spoke and ate, since the ESL teachers skipped him during reading class. Back then, he picked up a basketball to beat his tormenters at their own game and studied until 3 in the morning to learn English. That commitment to excellence continues today.

How else could a basketball player inspire the coach who plays him 12.9 minutes per game to say the things that Jerome Allen says of Jok -- not to mention name him a captain?

"The title goes with what he's done since his first day on campus. It fits with who he is," says Allen. "The university has benefited more from him being here than he has from being at the university."

*****

Basketball came at the perfect time for Jok, a gem he uncovered after his grandmother found a sponsor for him, his mother and brother in Des Moines' Saint Ambrose Cathedral. In every sense, the sport was perfect. Here was a game in which its defining skill, shooting, could be mastered through repetition. All Jok had to do was walk the three miles to the YMCA in the chilly Iowa winter, then wait 20 minutes inside until he could feel his hands again. At his peak, before he averaged more than 14 points per game as a junior at Roosevelt High, he stayed for eight hours each day.

"I felt like I had a purpose," he says, recalling his Sudanese peers who ended up in gangs or jail while he shot his way onto the mid-major recruiting radar.

But the game was never the end, only the means. It allowed Jok to distract himself from life's pressures. What is my purpose in the world? If I die today, what will people say about me? "I'm always thinking," he says. "Basketball's probably the only time I'm not thinking."

Even today, three years after the scholarship offer that changed his life, the anger still hibernates within him. The other side of Jok -- the one that compelled him to wrap his six-year-old fingers around an AK-47 moments after his slain father was carried home -- still wages war with the man he's become.

"You need to stay close to the foundation," the man in him reasons. He talks of pursuing a Master's and a PhD in education, and landing a job that would give the foundation a financial backbone. "You were chosen to be in this position not for you, but for other people."

"Why is it that I was chosen?" rages the boy, the one birthed by South Sudan's ruthlessness, the reminder that this 20-year-old who speaks like a politician and thinks like a philosopher grew up in a breeding ground of violence. His childhood days were routinely interrupted by the growl of Antonov bomber planes, the cue to run for cover in holes dug into the soil. His playtime consisted of sneaky ventures into his father's gun storage room to fiddle with his choice of 400-some pieces of bone-rattling steel.

Four months after he committed to Penn, he nearly snapped. His grandfather, Gok Dinka paramount chief Jok Dau Kachuol, had been killed in crossfire. When he heard the news on that Saturday in February before basketball practice, he curled up on the armrest of his home sofa and froze. Five ... 15 ... 30 minutes passed. Over a decade of loss, he had grown immune to bad news; death had lost its gravity. "You hear something that gets you angry, but emotionally you're numb. It's hard to explain," he says, for once in search of words. "I didn't not feel emotion. ... You do. ... But after you've been around it so much, there's nothing that sticks out.

"But my grandfather's death brought everything back. My dad's death -- everything."

The tears rushed back, too, along with the most enraging of thoughts. That his people are dying of starvation and disease. That they have no clean water. That his tribe has no leader. And, most of all, that he could do nothing about any of it. He vowed revenge.

Then he thought of Penn, and the education it would provide him. He thought of those responsible for his country's misfortune, and how they would sleep well regardless of his feelings. And he forgave them, or at least "tricked" himself into doing so, so that he could sleep.

He still thinks about retaliating. For his most recent answer to the impossible questions -- how to enact change without being viewed as the enemy; how to solve problems peacefully in a nation that only knows violence -- he turned to Malcolm X. "By any means necessary," he asserts, his mind stirring after another afternoon practice. "The dream is to do it without violence. Just don't get it twisted. If you want to fight, as a last resort..." He smacks the back of his right hand into his left palm with each word. "We will fight."

When reason takes over, he thinks of his family, of his education, of how much he has to lose. "I have other ways of fighting back," he concedes. "I'm always finding ways."

Link

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South Sudan debut in CAF clubs competition

By Muhammad Iqbal | Sunday, 17 February 2013



JOHANNESBURG: El Nasir became the first South Sudan club to compete in a CAF competition this weekend, but they conceded a couple of late goals to lose 3-1 at Azam of Tanzania in the Confederation Cup.

More here

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SSFA president and vice elected

(27th February 2013) - The General Assembly of the South Sudan Football Association (SSFA) has held elections for the President and Vice President of the association. Chibor Goach Alie, has been elected President while Andrea Abdallah Tumbutu, a member of the football association in Western Bahr el Ghazal, has been elected vice.

The two were the only candidates vying for the positions and were elected unopposed by 31 members of the association’s general assembly.
The elections took place in Juba, in the presence of officials from the international football governing body FIFA and the Confederation of the African Football (CAF).

CAF representative, Edgard Tiga, said the new elections should bring a stop to all wrangles within the football body.

Miraya

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Former Portuguese International Footballer To Launch Football Academy

Written by Juma John Stephen | Published on Tuesday, 05 March 2013


Luís Figo is a Portuguese former international footballer. He played as a midfielder for Sporting CP, FC Barcelona, Real Madrid, and Internazionale. [Juma John Stephen]

Briefing the press after his arrival, Figo said he is in the country in partnership with Star Petroleum Company to explore ways of supporting the young nation in sports.

“I have come here to try to help develop the sport. We are going to have a meeting with the government. We are going to have a sports academy. Am happy to be here and I like the welcome you give me,” said Figo.

According to the Star Petroleum representative, Farshad Zandi, there are more opportunities for football lovers in South Sudan to see that the game is developed professionally with top trainers.

“We have come to support the sport in South Sudan we are going to bring some coaches from Madrid to training here,” said Zandi.

He will meet the Government Spokesperson Dr. Barnaba Marial Benjamin.

The Director for Sports said the academy will help in training South Sudanese footballers to be able to compete globally.

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