World Soccer - UK (2021-03)

eyewitness

“In the long-term, we have to build a
program for the grassroots,” says Besong.
“There are so many young talents in
South Sudan. Each club should have
youth teams – Under-12, Under-15 and
Under-17. We will need years to develop
those talents, to become elite players.”
The German-Cameroonian coach
arrivedinJubain2019tofindtheteam
inthelowerpartsoftheFIFAranking.
They participated in the last three Africa
Cup of Nations ual

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Besong. “Most of the games are being

played on these grounds. They don’t

play on grass, not even on artificial

pitches. I sometimes go there to scout.

Even dogs pass by. It took me a few

months to get that into my head.”

Al Rabit FC, the current cup winners,

participated in the Confederation of

African Football (CAF) Confederation

Cup, but were eliminated in the

ualifiers b Ta ’s

a

and infrastructure are a priority to

cultivate a sporting culture and advance

South Sudan’s fortunes, but without

much funding those objectives remain

problematic.

Besong explains: “South Sudan still

needs to invest a lot in football, which I

don’t think is a priority now. The

economy, even though they are facing a

lot of devaluation of their currency, is at

its best. Some of the citizens are

returning, some investors are getting in.

In other regions, outside ofJuba, you

still have crimes and attacks from

pockets of resistance. The government

has other priorities – schools, hospitals,

roads. It is going to take a while. The

government didn’t fund anything, not

even one dollar.””

BBriigghhttSSttaaars...SSoutthh

Sudan celebrate

scoring against

Somalia

Infantino...The FIFA president visited South

Sudan in 2018

Bicycle kick...South

Sudan defender Attir

Thomas Tom