By Emmanuel Patrick Laku | Sports Hunter South Sudan | 16 August 2026
JUBA, South Sudan — Viva Stars FC Secretary General Simi Martin was among the notable figures at the closing ceremony of the 10th Edition of the Monyie-Miji Football Tournament, making a special appearance at Bros Resorts in Juba on Saturday night.
Simi, who hails from Hatiha in Eastern Equatoria State, attended the colourful awards ceremony after serving as a match coordinator throughout the tournament, which was organised to promote peace, unity and stronger relationships among communities across Eastern Equatoria State through football.
Dressed sharply in a suit, Martin attracted attention during the evening after being photographed alongside a female guest, adding a memorable moment to the tournament's closing celebrations.
The appearance quickly became one of the talking points of the evening, although Sports Hunter South Sudan could not independently confirm the nature of the relationship between Simi and his female companion.
Simi's presence was particularly notable given his involvement throughout the competition, both as a match coordinator and as a representative of the Hatiha community.
His Hatiha side reached the semi-finals before eventually finishing third in the tournament.
Away from the community competition, Martin serves as Secretary General of Viva Stars FC, a Juba Football Association First Division club.
The Monyie-Miji tournament concluded with a celebration of more than football, highlighting the sport's role in bringing communities together and promoting peaceful coexistence across Eastern Equatoria.
For Simi, however, Saturday night's appearance provided a different kind of spotlight — combining his football administration role with a memorable moment at the tournament's closing celebration.
