Africa-Press – South-Sudan. The local football fraternity is a worried lot following the chaotic scenes that were witnessed at one of the country’s most famous playgrounds—Bulluk—on Sunday.
Just to recap the incident, the local teams from the payam levels—Aweil North and Pibor—were lined up for a sumptuous match that had attracted the spectatorship of the national minister of youth and sports among other dignified guests. The Martyrs Tournament has been a great success since it was rolled out.
Teams from the grassroots with players who connect with the local people on the ground were serving a spectacle of entertainment and hope for a united South Sudan from the villages.
Based on the idea and the execution, the tournament had immensely served its purpose. The fans trooped to cheer for their favourite teams based on their backgrounds.
This is normal in football. Again, the fans bestowed passion for victory, and this is what forms the bedrock of all competitions. A winning mentality is key. But on the other hand, a competition is a two-faced coin—it has loss and victory.
The game played at Bulluk playground was destined for a peaceful end as the players had manifested the spirit of sportsmanship. But just in the dying minutes, all hell broke loose when Pibor fans stormed the pitch after they felt aggrieved that the match officials had awarded a goal that should not have stood.
The match ended, and chaos seized the moment. The dignitaries headed by the minister took to their heels after the violence began, and the game that was meant to cement hands of friendship was made into a mockery of peace and unity long sought by the hard-working citizens.
For a country that works so hard to unite its citizens, the incident at Bulluk needs widespread condemnation because violence has no reward.
Now that the South Sudan Football Association has demanded an investigation into the incident, it is prudent to have the perpetrators of the violence disciplined.
This will help weed out the criminal elements that want to penetrate the country’s noble social activity, which will be used as an instrument of unity. We must get rid of hooliganism in sports and encourage grass-roots sporting activities.
Source: The City Review South Sudan
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