Jebel Koten Football Club has been crowned the champions of the peace tournament after beating Lakatepan Football Club 1-0 in the final match in Kapoeta on Saturday.
The peace tournament was organized by the Kapoeta Local Football Association and sponsored by the National Minister of Environment and Environment, Hon. Josephine Napwon Cosmos.
The aim is to promote peace among the young people and the communities across Eastern Equatoria state.
Jebel Koten’s Moses Ekua Jersey scored a free kick in the 79th minutes to vanquish Lakatepan’s dream of winning the championship.
The tournament was attending by senior state government officials – flanked by Governor Louis Lobong Lojore.
“…make use of this time as a youth. Don’t waste time, don’t do things that will not help your body and your family and your country,” the governor told the young people.
In his remarks, the acting chairperson for Kapoeta Local Football Association outlined some of the challenges facing the local clubs.
He mentioned the absence a playing grounds and office infrastructure.
“Previous head of SSFA has been promising to ensure that Kapoeta becomes a full local football association but it has not been forthcoming. The second challenge is the issue of the field; the government has given us one field informally [but] we don’t have documents as the football association. We hope the government will hear to our cry,” Amos Lokai stated.
In response to the appeal, Governor Lobong said: “…go to Mayor so that he can give you a strategic place so that you can build to generate money, and offices for the association because you are the first club that has shown us and the people in Juba that there are youths in Kapoeta that can really play.”
For his part, the Vice President of South Sudan Football Association, Charles Odwa promised that the body will support the activities of the Kapoeta Football Association.
“We put in our agenda and it has been passed by the Board of Directors, [and] it is only waiting for the general assembly which will be in December. When we call the general assembly we are going to talk about Kapoeta,” Odwa disclosed.
The tournament was also attended by the State Minister of Culture, Youths and Sport, Margaret Idwa, and State Minister of Gender and Social Welfare, Jennifer Nabongorika.