Youth minister Atong seeks closer ties with federations

South Sudan’s Minister of Youth and Sports, Atong Kuol Manyang, on Tuesday met national sports federations in Juba to discuss stronger cooperation and challenges facing the country’s sports sector, including limited funding, poor infrastructure and weak youth development programmes.

Speaking during the consultative meeting, Atong said the ministry wanted closer coordination with federations and greater focus on resource mobilisation, infrastructure rehabilitation and preparations for national, regional and international competitions.

“We want to strengthen cooperation between the ministry and the federations and identify the challenges facing sports federations,” she said.

Atong said the government viewed sports as a tool for peacebuilding, youth empowerment and social development, adding that the ministry would explore options for funding and infrastructure support.

The ministry’s undersecretary, Monica Agum, urged the country’s 32 sports federations to follow existing regulations to improve coordination and discipline within the sector.

“We need to work with the federations, but we also need to respect the rules of the ministry and the rules of the federations,” Agum said, adding that the meeting would allow both sides to discuss expectations and activities.

Makur Majok, first vice president of the South Sudan Football Federation, called for increased government investment in sports, saying federations were struggling to finance national teams.

“Football needs money,” Majok said. “All over the world, national teams are the responsibility of governments, but here in South Sudan each federation struggles alone.”

Meanwhile, Samuel Wusong Gabriel, president of the South Sudan Wrestling Federation, said wrestling could help promote unity and social cohesion, particularly among cattle-keeping communities affected by insecurity.

“All South Sudanese love wrestling as a sport that can promote unity,” Gabriel said.

South Sudan’s sports sector faces chronic underfunding, poor infrastructure and limited support, but the country is seen as having strong potential in basketball, football and wrestling due to its youthful population and rising international success.