By Kei Emmanuel Duku
As South Sudan Women’s Cup third edition ends today in Buluk Training Centre, Yei Super Queens, the reigning champions, will face Tiger United (Kuajok) at 3 PM.
This year’s edition had the Nile Eagles of Bor and Bentiu City SC from Bentiu as newcomers to the competition, making a total of 10 teams compared to 8 in the previous edition.
From the technical bench, this will be a showpiece between Sony Harriet and Lilian Prema, who have previously managed Yei Joint Stars at the inception of the South Sudan Women National League in 2021.
Although little exists about Lilian’s experience as a coach, unlike her counterpart, Harriet, who has a Coaching C license obtained from Uganda in 2022, Lilian is yet to lose a game in this competition.
For Coach Sony Harriet, this will be her second spell with the Super Queens, having left them briefly to join the Kator FC Women’s team before returning to the club.
Out of the four games Lilian took charge of, the team managed to score seven goals and concede one in four matches.
Tiger United FC finished ahead of Al-Hilal FC of Wau after overcoming them 3:1 in the classification match played in Aweil Freedom Square last week.
Whereas Yei Joint Stars lost their opening fixtures through a petition to Bentiu City SC by 2:0, the return league managed to overtake them 7:2 on aggregate. Yei Stars have scored a walloping 18 goals and only conceded three in the process—two against Bentiu City and one against Munuki FC.
Yei Joint Stars overcame Al-Wehida FC of Yambio in the classification match by 5:0 to top group B, while Tiger United beat Al-Hilal FC 3:1 in a similar fixture to book a semifinal slot against Al-Wehida FC of Yambio.
In the semifinal fixtures, Tiger FC needed two late goals from Anyiet Wek Maduok to face Yei Joints Stars in today’s final. In contrast, Yei Joint Stars eased past Al-Hilal FC by 4:0 to reach the finals.
A recent recipient of the Coach C certificate, Harriet has managed the senior women’s national team as an interim coach following the departure of Shilene Booysen in 2023.
However, during her tenure as an interim coach, she lost 8:0 on aggregate against the Egypt Women’s National Team in an international friendly.
Before moving to Kator, she managed to win the inaugural South Sudan Women National League in 2021 with the Yei Joint Stars.