WES State Ministry of Culture, Youth, and Sports Imposes Restrictions on Football Tournaments

By Jackson Gaaniko

The Ministry of Culture, Youth, and Sports in Western Equatoria State announced a new directive aimed at regulating football tournaments. According to this order, only events sanctioned by the South Sudan Football Association (SSFA) and its sub-associations are permitted. Individuals or institutions organizing football tournaments without prior approval from the ministry will face a fine of 1,000,000 SSP.

Honorable Minister David Simbi addressed sports journalists in the evening, emphasizing that no more football tournaments in WES will take place without approval from the Ministry of Sports. The ministerial order, numbered 02/2024, ensures that only official tournaments organized by the SSFA and its sub-associations will proceed as planned in their calendar without interruption.

The order also warns that any individual or institution found violating this directive will be subject to legal penalties, including the specified fine.

On social media, reactions captured by Al Huriya media in Western Equatoria State indicate that many football fans view this decision negatively