SSFA, Cross Cultures discuss football development initiative

JUBA – The South Sudan Football Association (SSFA) and Danish sports organization Cross Cultures have discussed initiatives to scale up the development of the football fraternity in the country.

SSFA announced Friday that the Managing Director of Cross Cultures, Anders Levinsen, expressed willingness to work collaboratively with the association to develop football from the grassroots.

“The President of South Sudan Football Association (SSFA), Mr. Augustino Maduot together with his Deputy, Mr. Charles Udwar, and Secretary-General, Mr. Victor Lawrence today met with the Managing Director of Cross Cultures,” SSFA said in a statement.

“The meeting discussed important issues regarding the development of football across South Sudan and the Organization’s activities in Juba and Torit,” it added.

The management of the SSFA described the meeting as successful saying the foundation, which is currently supporting sports in Juba and Torit could extend its activities to Bor and Aweil.

“The Managing Director of Cross Cultures, Mr. Anders Levinsen said the meeting was fruitful and they have discussed a number of essential issues on how both the foundation and South Sudan Football Association will work closely towards promoting football to the grassroots level.

“Mr. Levinsen revealed that the organization has planned to extend its activities to Bor and Aweil which was initially in Juba and Torit only, adding that Cross Culture has trained 200 coaches in Torit and Juba – also supported sport’s activities for 4,000 children from different schools,” it said.

The President of South Sudan Football Association (SSFA), Mr. Augustino Maduot appreciated Cross Cultures’ support in promoting the sport in the country, expressing SSFA readiness to work closely with the foundation to promote football

According to the statement, the newly-elected President said what Cross Cultures is doing is very essential towards mending social cultures amongst children, citing that promoting peace and unity through sports is one of the association’s vision hence Cross Cultures is an important partner to work with.

Cross Cultures is a Danish organization whose mission is to use sports, particularly its Open Fun Football Schools program, as a tool to bringing people to play and cooperate together across ethnic, social, and religious divides in a way that contributes to peaceful co-existence, social cohesion, and resilience.

The organization established its mission in South Sudan in 2018, seven years after the country attained its independence.