Opinion | By Emmanuel Patrick Laku | Sports Hunter South Sudan
JUBA - Yesterday, at around 10:50 am, a Sports Hunter South Sudan photographer captured a moment that deserves national attention.
As Yei Joint Stars returned from training at the Bulluk Playground in Juba ahead of the upcoming CECAFA Women's Club Championship, several players were seen travelling on the roof rack of a Toyota Land Cruiser.
It is a powerful image—not because it tells the whole story, but because it invites us to ask whether this is the standard of care our champions deserve.
Yei Joint Stars have established themselves as one of the most successful women's football clubs in South Sudan. Through years of hard work and determination, they have lifted major trophies, produced national team players, and earned the right to represent the country in regional competitions.
Yet, as they prepare to carry South Sudan's hopes at the CECAFA Women's Club Championship, the image of players travelling on a roof rack reminds us that success on the pitch does not always translate into adequate support off it.
This opinion is not intended to criticise the club or any individual. Many football clubs across South Sudan operate under severe financial constraints and rely on the sacrifice of dedicated leaders and supporters to keep their teams running.
Instead, this photograph should encourage a broader conversation about the welfare of female footballers. Are our clubs receiving the support they need? Are our champions being provided with safe transportation and the conditions necessary to compete at their best? What more can football authorities, sponsors, government institutions, and the private sector do to strengthen women's football?
These are questions worth asking—not to assign blame, but to inspire solutions.
As journalists, our role extends beyond reporting results and celebrating trophies. We also have a responsibility to highlight the realities that shape our sport and to amplify conversations that can lead to meaningful change.
Yei Joint Stars have repeatedly made South Sudan proud. As they prepare for another regional assignment, they deserve the full support of the football community and the nation they represent.
Perhaps this photograph will be remembered not simply as an image of players returning from training, but as the moment that encouraged a renewed commitment to investing in women's football.
Photo: Sports Hunter South Sudan. Yei Joint Stars players return from training in Juba on Wednesday after a training session as preparations continue for the CECAFA Women's Club Championship.
