By: Emmanuel Patrick Laku |Sports Hunter South Sudan | 24th July 2026
JUBA – South Sudan's Minister of Youth and Sports, Atong Kuol Manyang, has reaffirmed the government's commitment to supporting football despite ongoing financial constraints, promising increased assistance for the country's national teams and development programmes when resources allow.
Speaking during the opening of the three-day Football Competitions Season Annual Review Workshop at Imperial Plaza Hotel in Juba on Friday, the minister acknowledged that limited funding has affected the South Sudan Football Federation's (SSFF) ability to fully support its activities, particularly international competitions.
"As a government, our support is limited at this time, but we will always try our best when the money is available," Atong said.
The minister noted that financial challenges have, at times, prevented the federation from travelling with full national team squads for international assignments.
"Especially when the national teams are going out of the country, we will try our best because I know you have missed some opportunities because you could not afford to take all the players. We will do our best," she added.
Atong also pledged government support for domestic football initiatives, saying the ministry remains committed to working with the federation to strengthen the sport across the country.
"Internally, in terms of your programmes or policies that need football to be improved, we will also do our part as government where necessary," she said.
The annual review workshop, organized by the South Sudan Football Federation (SSFF), brings together football stakeholders to assess the 2025/26 season, review competitions, identify challenges and discuss strategies aimed at improving football administration and development ahead of the new campaign.
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