By Philip Buda Ladu
South Sudan’s cabinet has approved Ministry of Youth and Sports’ policy, allocating $5 million annual budget for development of sports, in the country.
In cabinet meeting on Friday, the National Minister of Youth and Sports, Hon. Dr. Joseph Geng Akec, presented Sport Development Policy 2024, memo.
Jacob Maiju Korok, the deputy national minister of information and acting government spokesperson, in his briefing to the media shortly after the meeting lamented about the presentation.
He told journalists that the goal of this policy is to promote sports and foster a sense of national pride and community development among the youth and the young people of South Sudan.
“The objective of this policy is to increase government and private sector investment in sports through infrastructure development,” Maiju explained.
“The Ministry of Youth and Sport is requesting a yearly allocation of $5 million budget for the development of sports in South Sudan,” he continued.
The acting government spokesman emphasized that the youth minister was advised to make it a policy so that he could also strike out strategic plans.
However, Mr. Koro noted that after the ministers’ deliberation, the memo was passed.
In June 2024, President Salva Kiir Mayardit, and FIFA president, Gianni Infantino inaugurated the renovated Juba National Stadium which was funded by the World Football governing body.
The stadium is the only internationally recognized modern sports facility in South Sudan.
The youngest East African country received the revamped Juba national stadium following the completion of the $5.1 million project funded by FIFA through its FIFA Forward Development Programme, which has been supporting member associations’ (MA) infrastructure projects since its establishment in 2016.