By Kei Emmanuel Duku
South Sudan Football Association (SSFA) has refuted allegations that national team players have gone months without receiving salaries, prompting some to boycott recent training camps.
In a press conference, SSFA General Secretary, Victor Lawrence Lual clarified that players are not entitled to monthly salaries but receive match bonuses.
He dismissed claims that players refused to join the camp due to unpaid wages, stating that all players are informed of the terms and conditions before being called up.
Lual noted that a few players who have not been summoned to the national team are tarnishing the association’s image, despite being aware of the selection rules. Some players were suspended two years ago for disciplinary issues and have not been recalled.
“The national team is not for one person. Today you can be in the team, and tomorrow it’s someone else. We don’t have a fixed squad, so how can we pay you regularly?” Lual explained.
Without disclosing specific figures, Lual stated that players receive summoning allowances and camping fees. Match bonuses are awarded for wins and draws but not for losses.
SSFA president, Gen. Augustino Madout, blamed the lack of government funding for the team’s poor performance. Despite cabinet approval for $2.6 million, the funds have not been released by the Ministry of Finance and Planning.
Madout emphasized that paying salaries and bonuses for national team players is the government’s responsibility, not the associations. The absence of funds has made it difficult to manage the 12 national teams.
“Every year, the men’s national team must play more than 20 international games, add on the 4 women’s national team and you need to travel with more than 30 delegations. Imagine the medical department, accommodation, tickets, and other costs. If we hadn’t started playing against Congo Brazzaville and South Africa, we were considering withdrawing from the 2025 AFCON against Uganda,” Madout said.
He criticized the public for accusing the association of mismanaging funds from FIFA and CAF, despite the fact that the money is intended for administrative costs and building capacity.
“Despite managing 12 national teams without any government funding, we’ve faced challenges in providing adequate support. While FIFA funds technical and administrative activities, it’s crucial to remember that the national team’s success ultimately rests on broader government support. With increased funding, we could ensure better treatment for our players, including competitive salaries and quality accommodations. Unfortunately, limited resources have hindered our ability to match the expectations of the public,” Madout added.
He equally acknowledged that players have not been paid for their last match against South Africa but promised to do so once funding is received.
However, he appealed to the private sector to support the association through advertisements during international matches to generate revenue.