SPORTS HUNTER SOUTH SUDAN

  By: Sports Hunter South Sudan - South Sudanese multimedia journalist Emmanuel Patrick Laku, widely known as Laku Lo Flora, has once again secured a place among Africa’s top sports storytellers, finishing 10th in the Photography (Sports Action) category at the AIPS Sport Media Awards with his compelling piece, “Flying High for Freedom.” The recognition marks his third appearance in the AIPS top 10, underlining a growing reputation for consistent, high-quality storytelling on the international stage. In 2023, Laku finished 6th in the Video Short Feature category with “United in Juba, Hearts in Philippines,” and also claimed 10th place in the Photography Portfolio category with “Bottles.” Laku works with the South Sudan Broadcasting Corporation (SSBC) as a reporter, where he also presents news for the radio section. His work spans video editing, photography, and videography—skills that continue to shape his distinctive storytelling style across multiple platforms. Beyond the newsroo...

   Feature | Inside pressure, disqualification, and the quiet return of identity By: Emmanuel Patrick Laku | Sports Hunter South Sudan Juba, South Sudan 28th April 2026 - There are moments in football that are recorded in results — and others that are carried long after the result is forgotten. For Victor Lawrence, former Secretary General of the South Sudan Football Federation , the defining chapter of his 4 years and 7 months in office , which ended in November 2025 , lives in those quieter moments. Not in victory. But in responsibility.  “I was trying to build something that would last” Before the setbacks, there was intention. “I challenged myself to leave something meaningful behind — building pathways for coaches through CAF C and B diplomas, and putting structures in place.” It was a long-term vision inside a system under constant short-term demand. “The most difficult pressure was balancing expectations with reality.” Expectations came from everywher...

By Emmanuel Patrick Laku | Sports Hunter South Sudan South Sudan U-17 women’s national team goalkeeper Viola Doki has spoken exclusively to Sports Hunter South Sudan following a challenging FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup 2026 preliminary round campaign. The junior Bright Starlets fell 2–0 in Juba before suffering a 6–0 defeat in Addis Ababa against Ethiopia , ending their qualification hopes—but for Doki, the experience marks the beginning of a bigger journey. 🎙️ On her debut for South Sudan “It was a massive honor to represent South Sudan for the first time,” Doki said. “Making my debut and being trusted as the first-choice goalkeeper meant everything to me, even though it was a tough experience. “I took responsibility for my role, just as my teammates did theirs. Now that the debut is done, it’s about going back, working harder, and improving for the next opportunity.” 🎙️ Reflecting on the two matches “It was a very difficult campaign for us,” she admitted. “We had high ex...

  By: Emmanuel Patrick Laku | Sports Hunter South Sudan Juba, South Sudan - 21st April 2026 - The Managing Director of Future Stars Football Academy, Bidali Henry Sam , has called for stronger and more structured player development systems following the resignation of Mohammed Both from his role as South Sudan national team goalkeeper coach. Henry made the remarks in a comment posted on the Sports Hunter South Sudan Facebook page on Tuesday , reacting to the news of Both’s departure. He expressed concern over what he described as inconsistent progression systems in South Sudanese football, warning that the lack of clear pathways could stall long-term growth, particularly in the women’s game. “If these players aren’t moved through the player development pathway, there will be nothing visible in women’s football development,” he said. Henry further emphasized the need for stability in technical leadership and long-term planning to ensure sustainable development across both men...

  Exclusive Interview | Sports Hunter South Sudan By Emmanuel Patrick Laku South Sudan U-17 Goalkeeper Coach Mohammed Both Resigns After Ethiopia Defeat Just hours after South Sudan’s U-17 national team suffered a heavy 6–0 defeat to Ethiopia in the second leg of the 2026 FIFA U-17 World Cup qualifiers —losing 8–0 on aggregate—goalkeeper coach Mohammed Both announced his resignation. In this exclusive interview with Sports Hunter South Sudan, he opens up about his decision, the challenges facing women’s goalkeeping in the country, and what must change moving forward. Q: Coach Mohammed, how would you describe your feelings after the final whistle in Addis Ababa? Mohammed Both: I feel frustrated. There is a deep sense of disappointment after such a result. Q: What was the main reason behind your immediate decision to resign? Mohammed Both: There is simply nothing encouraging at the moment. We keep repeating the same mistakes every time, and that is very difficult to accept...

  By: Sports Hunter South Sudan | Spurce FUFA  The Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) has taken another significant step in its long-term player development strategy after successfully conducting National Trials over the weekend. The exercise was aimed at identifying promising young talents to be nurtured through the Schools of Excellence programme, with a clear pathway toward progression into the National Football Academy. This initiative remains a central pillar of the FUFA Elite Player Development Pathway, operating under the FUFA Player Development Curriculum and aligned with the federation’s Technical Master Plan. The programme is further strengthened by backing from the FIFA Talent Development Scheme. With a structured system now firmly in place, FUFA continues to lay a solid foundation for the future of Ugandan football, ensuring that identified talents are guided through a clear and professional development pathway.

  By: Emmanuel Patrick Laku | Sports Hunter South Sudan  Juba, South Sudan- 20th April 2026 - South Sudan U-17 women’s national team goalkeeping coach Mohammed S. Both has stepped down from his role following the team’s crushing 8–0 aggregate defeat to Ethiopia in the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup qualifiers. The second-leg 6-0 loss, played in Addis Ababa on Sunday evening, confirmed the team’s exit from the qualifiers and triggered an emotional response from the coach. In a statement posted on his official Facebook page, Mohammed. announced his resignation, saying: “Following the disastrous result in today’s match, I found no option but to step down from my position as goalkeepers’ coach of the national women’s teams.” He also called for accountability within the setup, adding: “I hope that everyone who feels they contributed to this defeat will also take responsibility and resign — I am tired of excuses.” The outgoing coach extended an apology to supporters, stating: “I apolog...

  Uganda’s U-17 women’s side delivered a dominant performance to secure a 4-1 victory over Zimbabwe in the second leg of their FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup 2026 qualifier, sealing a comprehensive 6-1 aggregate triumph at the FUFA Stadium Kadiba. Brendah Nassaka opened the scoring inside 10 minutes before Immaculate Acen doubled the advantage in the 34th minute. Giovanna Aketogwanga added a third just before the break, with Terry Mora Oseko putting the result beyond doubt in the 85th minute. Zimbabwe managed a consolation through Shantel Gwenhamo in first-half stoppage time (45+1), but it was not enough to change the outcome of the tie. Uganda’s commanding display across both legs confirmed their progression in style, showcasing attacking depth and control throughout the encounter. Final Score: 🇺🇬 4-1 🇿🇼 Aggregate: 🇺🇬 6-1 🇿🇼 Competition: FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup 2026 Qualifiers

  Tanzania’s U-17 women’s side sealed qualification to the next round of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup 2026 qualifiers with a convincing 3-0 victory over Botswana. After edging the first leg 3-2 away from home, Tanzania completed the job in style on home soil, producing a controlled and clinical performance to confirm their progression. Bahati Steven and Harrier Juma were once again instrumental as Tanzania’s attacking momentum proved too strong for the visitors, who struggled to respond throughout the encounter. With a 6-2 aggregate triumph, Tanzania march on confidently in the qualifiers, underlining their growing strength in the competition.