South Sudan athletes run for peace and unity

Several South Sudanese athletes participated in the just concluded national athletics championship, that saw Central Equatoria state and Western Bahr El Ghazal state crowned winners of the men and women categories.

Majok Ayii Muorwel, the President of the South Sudan Athletics Federations, said on Saturday that athletics have the pull like any other sports games to unite people at both local and national level.

“As we all know, athletics games bring people together, we will work to engage our people through sports for peace and unity,” Mourwel told journalists at Buluk playground in Juba, the capital of South Sudan.

The second edition of the national athletics championship was held under the theme, “Sport for peace and unity”.

The two-day tournament held from November 24 to 25 was sponsored by Bonnke Group of companies and Digitel mobile telecom company. The games brought together athletes from the 10 states and three administrative areas.

Kuol Mindar, a 23- year- old athlete representing Unity state said he is committed to excel in 200 Meters race till his retirement from athletics.

“Sport is very good, it brings people together, our tribe is athletics federation I want to benefit from running, I want athletics to be my career and I want to be in 200 meters race till I retire,” Mindar said.

 Mata Manyuon, the coach of Unity state who has trained athletes for over 15 years, said sport can bring people together and make them forget racism and tribalism.

Marko Akol, the Secretary General of the South Sudan Athletics Federation, said the second edition of national athletics championship has unearthed new talents and also had new records set by the participants.

He said some of the successful athletes will be flown to South Africa and Botswana for training, as they prepare for the upcoming All Africa Games to be held in Accra in March 2024.