South Sudan's English Daily Newspaper
"We Dare where others fear"
By Simon Deng
The communities in Torit County, Eastern Equatoria state, embraced peace through sports on Saturday, as thousands gathered for a female soccer tournament organised by the Support Peace Initiative Development Organization (SPIDO).
Wodcan Saviour Lazarus, the Executive Director of SPIDO, said that the female soccer tournament aims to promote peace and harmony among communities across the state.
“The message is unity is strength; united we stand, divided we fall. There are many things that can unite us rather than divide us. Let us work for peace where we have grievances; we need to engage in dialogue together,” said Lazarus during the tournament’s closing ceremony at Torit Freedom Square.
“It is not easy to organise such a tournament; funding is essential. We have extended the tournament to girls, breaking barriers and taboos. The peace tournament is not only for Torit but for the entire country,” he added.
Sindi Imoya Anthony, a 24-year-old player from Young Stars who has been playing football since 2020, remarked that football serves as a uniting factor, noting that tournaments bring together people from diverse communities.
“We are playing football for peace. It is about bringing people together so we can know each other, unite, and achieve peace through these tournaments,” said Anthony.
“We all come from different communities, and the game has united young people. It allows us to meet and get to know one another,” she explained.
Nancy Clara Francis, the 21-year-old captain of the Light On Football Club, said the tournament has enabled people from various backgrounds to embrace peace as a vital element for progress.
“We are here for the tournament, but we are also embracing peace within the community. It is beneficial for maintaining peace in families and communities, bridging gaps so that people can know each other and live peacefully as brothers,” said Francis.
Margret Idua, the Minister of Youth and Sports in Eastern Equatoria State, stated that the peace tournament reinforces the 2018 revitalised peace agreement, which focuses on creating peace and harmony throughout the country.
“We are bringing peace to communities through football; it is a uniting factor. Football promotes peace and eliminates idleness. With this tournament, women are now equally empowered, which is helpful and a great way to bring people together,” said Idua.
Akzilio Odume, the Director General for the Ministry of Peace Building in Eastern Equatoria State, noted that the peace tournament is part of activities aimed at fostering peace across the state.
“This is a unique and important event that aids in peacebuilding. Youth are dynamic in society, especially in improving peace in our communities. We need to cultivate young people in ways that encourage them to be peaceful, come together, and work collaboratively,” said Odume.
“We are facing challenges in promoting peace because our communities are still experiencing a culture of violence, even after the peace agreement, which complicates the sustainability of peace,” he added.
Thomas Osman, the President of the Torit Football Association, expressed that the tournament aims to help communities embrace peace and coexist harmoniously throughout Torit County and Eastern Equatoria State.
“We are playing in the soccer tournament for peace; peace is crucial for our families, communities, and South Sudan as a whole. Sports play an important role in peace, and girls have a significant part in peacebuilding. We need peace in our communities,” said Osman.
The highly attended soccer tournament, held on Saturday at Torit Freedom Square between Light On Football Club and Young Stars—both from Torit County—ended in a penalty shootout, with Young Stars winning 6 to 5.
The peace tournament, organised under the theme “Sport for Peace: United We Stand, Divided We Fall,” was attended by government officials, religious leaders, and community leaders, and was supported by the Korea International Cooperation Agency through UNDP for peace and community cohesion.
