Time for new dawn at the SSFA- Parek

JUBA – The newly-elected South Sudan Football Association (SSFA) president Gen. Augustino Maduot Parek has vowed to rise above military status and champion new dawn to unite the board members after assuming his office officially last week.

Maduot’s promise also included working closely with media groups, all its members of the SSFA board of directors as well as local football associations in the country.

“Our unity can give us what we want to achieve, that is through SSFA, we can build a culture of discipline, a culture of socialization, a culture of togetherness and culture of cooperation to our people,” Gen. Maduot said at SSFA headquarter on Tuesday in Juba.

He said SSFA is the only platform that can bring people together, adding that football is the only tool that can unite all South Sudanese in the country.

He added that “we are ambassadors of our government, and its people so let us build this spirit and I promise you I will continue work with you whether here at the headquarters or outside.”

He encouraged members of the board of directors to cooperate and work hard in order to promote football in the country.

Maduot urged the media to project the good image of the country to the world by covering the country’s soccer tournaments.

“For the media, I will always be your person, because people want to know what is happening in the country about football, so anytime you want me I will be available, or my spokesperson or my board of director even my vice President they will always be available,” he said.

On military status

Maduot said being a military general will not obstruct him from delivering what SSFA accepts and from achieving its goal of improving and taking football forward.

“The activities concerning the military general have nothing to do with heading the SSFA but it is only that people want to create something different or create confusion among the public,” he said.

He said several other sports presidents with military status like the president of South Sudan National Olympic Committee is a general, who is Gen. Wilson and the same applies to president South Sudan Athletic Federation; people went mute.

“So it is just to confuse people, no one should take it seriously and it is not a problem but we need to show things practically so that people believe in what we are doing,” he added.

His visit to Juba Stadium

In his statement, the president appreciated GS company contractor and civil engineers for the good job done saying that the Stadium met the FIFA standards. He said that South Sudan was going to have a well-designed stadium.

“We are happy, I want to tell the public, of course, the 7 miles were not part of the design initially so they are going to work on it. There is a communication going on with FIFA in order to consider the other part and this is what may delay the work and hopefully, the stadium will be ready this year,” he said.

According to Maduot, one of their plans was to contact CAF and FIFA to help in upgrading coaches, referees, and upgrading leaders through training. He also said that there was a success already that the South Sudan National team competed in CECAFA and thus women’s team would also compete in CECAFA. President Maduot disclosed that leagues from the States would commence in August.

Meanwhile, Francis Amin Michael, the former SSFA President called on the SSFA board of directors to cooperate and continue giving support to the new president in order to achieve the mission of taking football high in the country.

“Our commitment remains that, we will stand with you, in everything, day and night we will be there for you if you want our help, we will work with you how you succeed in your administration,” former SSFA President Amin reiterated.

He also called on all football fans and lovers and football associations to be behind the new president and support him in whatever he is doing to improve the country’s football.

Mr. Amin also defended the new army Gen. saying it was not a problem for a General to head a football association.

“I have seen a lot of people criticizing the election of the military general to be the SSFA president. I just want to clarify to you that FIFA has no rules that prohibit Generals to be FA president,” he defended.

“Electing a general in the position of football association as president is normal, I want to give you an example, the president of Rwandan Football Association is a general in the army, he is called general Sakamana and also Ethiopian Football Association president is also retired army personnel though he has not reached to the rank of General.”

For his part, Charles Udwar the deputy SSFA president promised to work with all members of SSFA in order to take the football fraternity forward.

“We are looking forward to working with all of the staff of SSFA, we will here for you and if there is anything please feel free our doors are open for you anybody from outside, we will be continues consulting you for help.”