Minister calls on private partners to invest in sports

By Simon Deng

The National Minister for Youth and Sports, Joseph Geng Akech, has asked both development and corporate partners to support investment in sports in a bid to foster peace and development across the country.

“I encourage all development and corporate partners, to seize this opportunity to engage all the sports federations, to identify possible partnership opportunities,” said Akech on Wednesday during the opening of the three- day conference on sports financing held at the Bank of South Sudan in Juba.  

Luol Deng, President of South Sudan Basketball Federation emphasized the importance of investing in sports, saying it not only enhances economic growth, but also creates jobs and promotes peace, unity, and social cohesion in South Sudan.

“Sports can play key role in youth development and economic growth. Sports also shapes how we see ourselves and also how the world sees us,” said Deng

Augustino Maduot Parek, President of South Sudan Football Association said investment in sports is critical for achieving peace and development, adding that sports can build peace at the grassroots level.

“Sports cannot happen without financing, for us to make achievements we have to invest in sports,” said Maduot, adding that sport is a source of national pride and identity.

Guy Bennett, Chief of Political Affairs Division at the United Nations Mission in South Sudan, said that investment in sports makes it an outstanding instrument for building peace and promoting social cohesion.

“Sports builds peace, resilience and shared national identity for South Sudan a country rich in diversity,” said Bennett.

Bennett added that sports provides unique platform for unity through engaging young people.   

Ramadan Mohammed Abdallah Goc, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International cooperation said the country has immense potential to invest in sports and realize positive outcomes from this investment.

 “There are different sectors for us to build our country and to feel proud of, sport is one of these sectors. We need to put in efforts to build sports. There is potential when it comes to basketball and there is also potential when it comes to football,” said Goc.