By Nakwam Rose
Central Equatoria State Minister of State Building, Jacob Aligo Lo-Lado, emphasized peace and unity to the youth during opening of Kajo-Keji Unity Tournament (KKUT).
Held on Saturday at Rock City Playground, under the theme “Score for Peace and Unity,” the tournament aimed to bring youth together, through sports.
It attracted government officials, including Aggrey Tisa Sabuni, the chairperson of the Kajo-Keji community, and Dwoki Moses, the state SPLM deputy secretary for political affairs, mobilization, and organization.
As the inaugural edition, eight football teams were formed, consisting of youth from different payams of Kajo-Keji.
The tournament is set to run for eight weeks, with matches scheduled on weekends, allowing young people to showcase their talents while promoting peace and coexistence.
Hon. Aligo praised the organizing football committee for their efforts and encouraged them to host more tournaments in the future, not only in Juba but also in Kajo-Keji.
He noted that football promotes unity and helps heal the trauma caused by past calamities affecting the people of Kajo-Keji.
“Let this initiative not end here in Juba. Organize an inter-payam tournament back in Kajo-Keji. The people at home are still traumatized and need such healing platforms. Unity is the foundation of development, and sports is a powerful tool to achieve that,” Aligo expressed.
Aggrey Tisa Sabuni appreciated the organizers for transforming sports into a peace-building platform, noting that football not only keeps people fit but also nurtures social bonds.
Dwoki Moses, the state SPLM deputy secretary, encouraged the various teams to uphold discipline and sportsmanship, reiterating the SPLM’s commitment to supporting peace initiatives at all costs.
The deputy coordinator of the Kajo-Keji Youth Association Coordination Office in Juba called on humanitarian organizations to sponsor future football initiatives, aiming for better tournaments.
Rikaju Julius, president of the Kajo-Keji Football Association, urged the crowd and teams to maintain peace and discipline while on the playground and throughout the tournament to ensure an organized event.
Isaac Mono, chairperson of the KKUT organizing committee, emphasized peace, unity, and youth engagement and development as the main goals of the tournament.
The tournament opened with an intense match between Kita Na FC and Heroes FC, where Kita FC scored four goals to Heroes FC’s one goal.
As the tournament progresses, organizers hope it will continue to serve as a beacon of hope, healing, and solidarity for the people of Kajo-Keji, both in Juba and at home.