By Kei Emmanuel Duku
South Sudan Cup runners-up, El-Merriekh FC Bentiu has been crowned champion of the 2023/24 Bentiu Local Football Association League.
El-Merriekh FC finished the season top of the table with 59 points above Bentiu City SC who finished the campaign second with 54 points out of 21 matches played.
Two goals from Jak James helped Al-Merriekh FC Bentiu crowned champion as Petrol FC are relegated to the second division league in Bentiu Local Football Association come.
Some of the teams relegated alongside Petrol FC who finished the season in the 9 positions with 28 points include Soon FC who ended their stay in the top-flight football in Bentiu local league with 17 points and finished in the 10th place.
Generation FC who managed to win only 4 games, drew 4, and lost 13 in the 2023/24 campaign gunned 16 points were regulated alongside United Brothers FC who lost all their games in the entire season to finish bottom of the league.
Already Malakia FC of Juba and Tahrir FC of Malut Local Football Association have been confirmed champions and will be representing their respective FAs in the upcoming championship to be hosted mid-year 2024.
However, the South Sudan Football Governing Body, SSFA has already issued guidelines saying this year’s Championship will only be contested by the 16 officially registered FAs including Abeyi Local Football Association.
This means that with the new guidelines issued, unregistered or unrecognized local Football Associations like Nimule, Mundri, Terekeke, and others who used to participate in playoffs under their parents FA’s will no longer participate in this year’s edition of the 2023/24 championship.