The annual inter-county competition on Monday commenced in Torit, Eastern Equatoria State with Torit and Ikotos playing the opening match that ended up in a two all draw.
Director General in the State Ministry of Youth Culture and Sports, Wani Kute Joseph, says the tournament is organized under the theme: “Sports for social cohesion”, Radio Emmanuel reported.
He said eight counties of Eastern Equatoria arrived to take part in the competition that is meant for peaceful coexistence within people in the state after the war broke out.
“We have inter-country peace tournament under the theme: Sports for social cohesion’, so when we are for sports for social cohesion, we have to coexist and work together. We brought the eight counties of Eastern Equatoria State, they have arrived, they are going to begin the match today, normally when organize the host here is Torit and there are champions which is Ikotos s automatically Torit will play Ikotos. After realizing peace in the country, we saw a need to restart the inter-county football competition”, Kute explained.
Wani Kute says the main aim for the tournament is to select the best players who will represent Eastern Equatoria in the state competition at the national levels.
“In 2014 we had inter-country, due to the issues that happened in our country, we didn’t play 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018 until now 2022 when we realized peace and we say we want to continue with this kind of tournament every year. The purpose is to select the best players to represent Eastern Equatoria team in the state competition in Juba as the main aim. Really it has a very good advantage because this will unite them and they will get to know each other because those who are coming from the west, east, north and south they will learn from one another and this is what we want”, he recalled.
The Director-General encouraged the players from different counties in the state to play with dignity and peacefully to avoid injuries among themselves.
“I would like to welcome all the citizens of Eastern Equatoria State who are now here in Torit to come and witnessed the colourful opening of this match and for the players since they are young, I want to urge them to play fair game they should not injure one another they should play friendly, play with dignity and show their talents because we are going to select them to represent Eastern Equatoria, it is your chance because when you are taken to Juba and you play best you will remain in Juba and represent south Sudan and even find yourself in the premier league”, Kute said.
Last week, the Governor of Eastern Equatoria State voiced plans for the state to hold a national unity tournament for counties.
The eight counties are divided into two groups A and B to play home and away to qualify to the knockout stage.
The tournament is taking place at Torit football playground and Dr. John Garang Memorial Secondary School playground.