South Sudan delegation to FIFA Arab Cup 2021 jets home
The South Sudan Football Association delegation to the Qatar FIFA Arab Cup 2021 has arrived home after attending the finals of the first-ever Arab competition.
The three South Sudanese represented South Sudan’s football body in the maiden FIFA Arab Cup in 2021 at the invitation of the Qatar Football Association.
On December 13, 2021, the SSFA delegation attended the closing ceremony of the FIFA Arab Cup in Qatar.
While in Qatar, the two Bright Stars national team players at U16 also represented South Sudan in the youth players’ program called “Generation Amazing Festival”, the social and human legacy program for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.
The program was launched on December 14 under the slogan “Involving All” at the Oxygen Park in Doha, in cooperation with the Qatar Foundation – the strategic partner of the festival.
Kur Abdulkarim and Stella Bullen took part in the opening ceremony.
Upon their arrival at Juba International airport, the SSFA vice president, Charles Udwar, appreciated the delegation their representation of South Sudan in the festival.
“We are happy for you people for representing us not only as SSFA but as a whole country. Because you were there to present South Sudan, I can say your being there meant a lot to us and will benefit our association in many ways,” Udwar said.
Meanwhile, Mujahid Ali, the head of the delegation to Qatar, said it was helpful for South Sudan to be represented in the FIFA Arab Cup 2021.
“It was important because the festival aims to enhance the capabilities of the participants and enable them to harness the power of football as a tool for sustainable development and peace in societies, facing social challenges, managing and implementing projects, as well as developing successful leadership skills.”
According to Mr Ali, his delegation held a series of meetings with the Head of International Relations Officer of the Qatar Football Association and South Sudanese Ambassador, Kulang Mingtuel, accompanied by Thomas Ajang, and John Keith. The group discussed football development in the country.
“The focal point of the discussion was how the two associations would work closely in areas of capacity building and developmental activities.”
He said that through the series of workshops, the festival allows the participants to familiarise themselves with the most important goals and activities of the Football for Development program in line with the objective.
Other initiatives launched during the period were “Generation Amazing”, in cooperation with the Arora Foundation for Training and Development, the Asian Football Confederation, and the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
