This year’s tournament featured a total of twenty-four teams, 12 boys’ teams and 12 girls’ teams

By Liam Josh

Whitaker Peace and Development Initiative (WPDI) in collaboration with Swedish Postcode Lottery and South Sudan Football Association (SSFA), successfully concluded the 2024 Whitaker peace tournament held at the Giada playground.

The month- long event held in Juba from November 2 to December 8th, aimed at promoting peace and community cohesion through sports, emphasizing the unifying power of football in communities affected by conflict.

This year’s tournament featured a total of twenty-four teams, 12 boys’ teams and 12 girls’ teams. Participants were drawn from the Protection of the Civilian sites 3 (POC 3), and the various neighborhoods in Juba.

Mr. Bush Buse, Program Coordinator for WPDI in Central Equatoria State emphasized on the significance of sports as the means of inclusion for young people impacted by war and violence. “Sports serves as an avenue for inclusion in productive activities and offers protection from crime and social ills,” Buse stated, highlighting the role of sports in fostering growth and community belonging.

In the finals, held under POC 3, the under 20 category showcased thrilling matches.

N-Four football club, representing POC 3, faced off against Both- Diu football club in a tense battle that conclude in a penalty shootout with N-Four emerging victorious, with 7-6 goals, after Both Diu missed their seventh penalty kick. In the other under- 20 final in Giada of Juba, Al Salam fc of Lologo secured a narrow 1-0 win over Kugi United of Gudele. Everest football club secured the trophy in the girls’ category, competing a successful tournament that reached over 500 direct participants and engaged some 15,000 additional community members who have been watching the games.

 The director of peace in central Equatoria state, James Wani praised the tournament’s efforts in promoting peaceful coexistence, noting that sports foster friendship and unity. He expressed gratitude to WPDI and its partners for their critical support, in transforming the lives at risk, including former gang members.

“Football build’s relationship and broadens connections,” Wani added, reinforcing the tournaments significance as a platform for understanding and building collaboration among different communities. He called WPDI to continue its sports initiative in the region.

WPDI’s Bush Buse, reiterated the tournament’s mission of creating harmonious coexistence and showcasing football talent. “Whether you win or lose, we are all winners of the Whitaker peace tournament,” he declared, emphasizing the values of respect and love inherent in the initiative.

Juma Lyon, captain of Al Salam football club, shared personal insights on the personal changes spurred by the tournament, crediting it for uniting young people in Lologo and fostering a sense of belonging and safety in the community. He urged WPDI to extend the tournament to include the older youth, ensuring that the spirit of peace through sports continues to thrive.

The successful culmination of the Whitaker peace tournament reaffirms power of sports as a catalyst for social change and community healing in South Sudan. As WPDI and its partners look into the future, the potential for sports to bridge the divides and foster unity, remains a beacon of hope for the region.