By Emmanuel Patrick Laku | Sports Hunter South Sudan
Originally published on Facebook: 3 March 2026 | Archived for Sports Hunter Online
The South Sudan Football Federation (SSFF) has issued a stern warning to sportswear vendors, importers, and retailers in Juba over the unauthorized sale of national team replica jerseys. In a public notice shared on the Federation’s official Facebook page on 3 March 2026, the SSFF expressed concern over the increasing circulation of counterfeit merchandise, stating that unauthorized sales violate intellectual property rights and deny the national teams important revenue opportunities.
The Federation has given all vendors a period of seven working days to comply with the directive. Businesses that continue selling unauthorized jerseys risk having their merchandise confiscated, facing legal action, and paying significant fines.
According to the SSFF notice, non-compliance will result in:
Confiscation: Unauthorized merchandise will be seized in coordination with law enforcement authorities.
Legal Action: The Federation will initiate necessary legal proceedings to protect its trademarks and commercial rights.
Fines: Significant penalties will be imposed on individuals or businesses found benefiting from unauthorized use of the Bright Stars brand.
The Federation has encouraged vendors interested in selling official national team merchandise to visit the SSFF headquarters and obtain formal authorization through the required licensing process.
SSFF Secretary General Advocate Bak Athian Bak said the decision is aimed at protecting the integrity of the national team brand and called on businesses and supporters to contribute to the development of South Sudan football through official channels.
The Bright Stars brand has continued to grow in recognition following South Sudan’s increasing participation in international competitions, making the protection of official merchandise an important part of the Federation’s commercial strategy.
