By Philip Buda Ladu
The first-ever Sports Financing Conference for South Sudan has kicked off in Juba with a resounding voice for a Public-Private Partnership to galvanize the sports’ potential in the young East African Country.
Early this month, the Council of Ministers Chaired by President Salva Kiir Mayardit approved the proposal of the National Ministry of Youth and Sports to organize the Sports Financing Conference in an attempt to foster sports growth and investment.
The Sports Financing Conference which runs from 27 to 29 November 2024, brought together stakeholders including cabinet ministers, all Sports federations in the country, diplomatic corps and development partners and the private sector to explore innovative sports financing solutions to unlock the potential of sports sector in South Sudan.
Dr. Joseph Geng Akech, the National Minister of Youth and Sports who is the organizer of the conference said they will prove sceptics wrong who doubt about the country’s resolve to overcome development, peace, and security and sports challenges.
Geng underscored that South Sudan is endowed with an abundance of talent in sports, but unless they invest in it, they may not harness that potential adding that’s why they organize this financing conference.
“It is true, indeed, that this country is endowed with potential. That is why the government is pursuing robust transformative programs to harness that talent, starting with sports” Geng stated.
Minister Geng explained that the conference is not a fundraising event but rather a sports conference with a scope of investment opportunities.
He encourages all partners present at the event; development and corporate partners, to seize this opportunity, to engage all the sports federations that are present to identify possible partnership opportunities.
“This is an investment-scooping opportunity. If you are a private business, a corporate entity, this is an opportunity to identify opportunities for investment in the respective sports federations that are present here” Geng said.
He added that this conference’s objectives are aligned with the President’s vision of attaining peace, unity and social cohesion through sports.
James Alic Garang, the governor of the Bank of South Sudan, who hosted the conference at the bank premises highlighted the importance of sports in the country saying it fosters development and economic growth, empowers youth and unites people.
He emphasized that sports can shape the image of a country and its development stage, enhance international recognition and attract investment.
“As we gather today to deliberate on sports financing initiative, let’s strengthen collaboration among the government, private sector civil society and other non-governmental actors across the board. Together we can build a sustainable framework that supports sports, build world-class facilities and promote sports at all levels and at all times,” Alic said.
Advocate Mahllode Muofhe, the South African Ambassador to South Sudan who delivered a keynote address to the conference said for some reasons sports are not supported by governments in African countries.
Amb. Muofhe appealed for unity of purpose and urged the government to increase the budget for sports stating “For as long as we’re not united we are not going to develop and attract sports financing”
Dr. Mohamed Abdallah Goc, the minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation who was the guest of honor representing President Salva Kiir Mayardit emphasized the need to recognize and support sports as a tool of national pride and identity.
He echoed the same sentiment of embracing sports financing and highlighted the role of private sector investment in sports growth and development.
Goc acknowledged that this conference is where they come together to brainstorm on how to build and start talking about financing our sports sector.
The minister stated that there are two different types of sports financing, that’s state and private financing. But he hinted that in sports state or formal financing is not enough.
He therefore called on the private sector to join the public sector in providing and giving services to our people.
“In many countries, people give more attention to the private sector that’s the informal financing of sports that’s why many countries in the world managed to develop their sports and youth activities in their countries” Dr. Goc lamented.
The first day of the conference witnessed so many commitments especially from the government entities with the Ministry of Financing pledging tax incentives, seeking grants and allocating of budget to the Ministry of Youth and Sports, among many others.