Kei Emmanuel Duku
Bright Stars fans in Juba and around the globe have started contributing money to support the National Team.
This comes after the South Sudan Football Association announced in a Press Conference last week that the association is facing numerous challenges in managing the players for the current 2025 AFCON Qualifiers.
During the press briefing, SSFA’s President Gen. Augustino Maduot stated that the association is financially constrained and can no longer afford to cater for other basic demands of the national team players such as travel, accommodation, and welfare.
Gen. Augustino stated the responsibility of the National teams solely lies on the government, however, since the cabinet approved $2.6 million for the national team, the money has never been remitted into the association accounts affecting planning and preparing for the 12 various national teams.
The Bright Stars returned from Uganda’s Capital Kampala on Saturday afternoon. Upon arrival, they were received by SSFA officials together with a section of Bright Star fans who have started contributing funds to support the national team.
Jalala Abdaalla Adoka, who is heading the contribution for support Bright Stars noted that the fans came up with the idea after they realized the national team players faced a lot of challenges before they could travel for the third AFCON qualifiers against Uganda Cranes last week.
He said when the fans came up with the idea to support the National Team, the proposal was shared with SSFA and the association welcomed the decision to support the Bright Stars in the return league schedule for today at Juba National Stadium.
He stated that as of yesterday afternoon, the amount contributed had reached $450 and 2M South Sudanese Pounds.
He added that the total amount expected is $10750 for accommodation, feeding, and gym for the five days while 2M Pounds is to be given to the Eco Bus Company daily right from the day of the arrival of the national team on Saturday through Wednesday.
“Till now our players are eating, sleeping, and doing everything on credit at the hotel, the management has given us till Monday to pay all the dues and we are still trying to run up and down to raise that amount. The Bus Company had wanted to charge us 15 million for five days but they reduced it to 10 million Pounds daily, the hotel is demanding $10,750 for 30 players for five days, the technical team and we still need money for the motorcade” said Adoka.
Adoka noted that the money contributed was not enough and urged the Bright Stars fans to contribute in cash or kind.
He expressed his frustration to the government through the National Ministry of Youth and Sports for showing a careless attitude toward the national team despite the fact it should have been the responsibility of the government to take care of the team and its associated costs.
“For now we are desperate for money whether cash or in kind because SSFA is saying they are completely broke and they can no longer manage the team, our government is mute even though some of the government have heard the ongoing contribution but they are not inviting any of us nor SSFA to meet them and discuss ways how to address the crisis the national team is going through” added Adoka.
He highlighted that the contribution is critical because it will motivate the players because since the 2025 AFCON qualifiers.
The Bright Stars have not won any single game and they are languishing at the bottom of Group K after losing all three matches.
They have yet to win a single game in Juba Stadium since it was renovated and launched in June 2024.