What were once celebrated as peace building events have steadily become flashpoints for disorder, intimidation and violence. Platforms intended to bring communities together are instead deepening divisions, leaving players caught in the crossfire of fan anger and community rivalry.
The warning signs have been impossible to ignore. In recent days, matches that should have been celebrations of talent and unity have ended in chaos. Pitches have been stormed, players attacked and supporters sent fleeing.
Last year, an attack on referees at Buluk Playground sent shockwaves through the local football community. This week, gunshots rang out at the same venue following a 90 minute match between El Merriek FC of Bentiu and Al Ghazala FC of Wau, turning what should have been a sporting contest into a scene of panic. Soon after, Munik Playground witnessed another disturbing incident, with players physically attacked by hostile fans.
These are not isolated incidents. They are part of a worrying pattern that threatens grassroots football in the capital. Tournaments organised in the name of unity are increasingly ending with overturned benches, frightened spectators and fleeing players.
At the heart of the problem is a glaring lack of effective oversight. The South Sudan Football Association, SSFA, should work closely with tournament organisers and participating communities to ensure adequate security and enforce order during matches. Fan loyalty and community pride must never be allowed to override the principles of fair play.
Misunderstandings over the rules can quickly inflame tensions, with a single refereeing decision sometimes being interpreted as an insult to an entire community. Without proper mechanisms to manage such tensions, football can easily become a trigger for wider conflict.
For players, the stakes could not be higher. They take to the field knowing that a bad tackle, disputed decision or moment of frustration could spark violence. The pressure to win for their community is immense, and when emotions boil over, players often become the easiest targets for angry supporters.
These tournaments can no longer be treated as harmless pastimes.
The South Sudan Football Association must begin building a meaningful safety framework for community football. This should include comprehensive regulations specifically tailored to grassroots tournaments. Matches should have adequate security personnel positioned around the pitch, as well as medical teams capable of responding to emergencies.
Tournament organisers should also be held accountable for meeting basic safety standards. Those who repeatedly fail to protect players and spectators should face appropriate sanctions.
Security alone, however, will not solve the problem. The SSFA should work with tournament organisers and community leaders to launch sustained public education campaigns promoting respect, restraint and sportsmanship. Fans need to understand not only the laws of the game but also the responsibility that comes with supporting their teams.
Community football has enormous potential to bring people together in a country where social divisions and violence have caused deep wounds. But that potential will be lost if football grounds become places of fear rather than celebration.
The welfare of players must be the ultimate priority. If community tournaments cannot provide basic protection to those who take to the pitch, they risk forfeiting the very purpose for which they were created.
Football in South Sudan should be a source of joy, unity and healthy competition, not a battlefield. It is time to reclaim that vision before it slips away entirely.
The writer, Khamis Cosmas Lokudu, is a South Sudanese journalist and a student at the University of Juba, where he is pursuing a master’s degree in international relations. He can be reached at khamiscosmas@gmail.com.
The views expressed in ‘opinion’ articles published by Radio Tamazuj are solely those of the writer. The veracity of any claims made is the responsibility of the author, not Radio Tamazuj.
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