SPORTS HUNTER SOUTH SUDAN

By: Emmanuel Patrick Laku | Sports Hunter South Sudan Juba, South Sudan – 20th March 2026 – In a historic milestone for South Sudanese football, Lilian Prima , former fitness coach of Yei Joint Stars FC, has successfully completed the CAF B Coaching Licence , one of Africa’s most prestigious and internationally recognized coaching certifications.  Notably, Lilian is one of only three female coaches to attend the course, making her achievement a breakthrough for women in football in a country where opportunities for female coaches remain limited. The four-month program, which began on 10th November 2025 , combined rigorous theoretical and practical training . Coaches were tested on tactics, formations, session planning, and match management.  The practical exams, held at the Juba National Stadium , concluded on Thursday, 19th March 2026 , marking the culmination of an intensive journey that pushed participants to their limits. Before joining the CAF B course, Lilian had a...

  EXCLUSIVE | Puro Okelle Urges Youth to Dream Big as South Sudan’s Muay Thai Champions Head Home By: Emmanuel Patrick Laku | Sports Hunter South Sudan  Juba, South Sudan - 19th March 2026 - The President of the South Sudan Kickboxing Federation, Puro Okelle Obob , has called on young people across the country to stay focused on their ambitions following the historic success of the three South Sudanese fighters at the 7th World Muay Thai Championship in Pattaya, Thailand. Okelle, who also serves as head coach, confirmed to Sports Hunter South Sudan that the three fighters are currently at Bangkok Airport and are expected to arrive in Juba on Friday at 9:30 AM aboard Ethiopian Airlines. The championship, held from March 12 to 18, 2026, brought together dozens of countries including Argentina, the Philippines, China, Thailand, Sri Lanka, India, Brazil, and France. The trio returns after a remarkable performance on the global stage, headlined by Abednego Thon, popularly known...

EXCLUSIVE: Sam S. Dante Calls for Urgent Infrastructure Reforms After South Sudan Cup Postponement Following the postponement of the South Sudan Cup 2025/2026 Playoff first leg between Gurei City FC (Juba) and Super Stars FC (Bor) due to heavy rain, Sports Hunter South Sudan  Reporter, Emmanuel Patrick Laku caught up with Sam Surur Dante , Managing Director of Future Stars Football Academy , to discuss the broader challenges facing football in the country. In this exclusive interview conducted in Juba on Wednesday, 18 March 2026 , Sports Hunter South Sudan explores the impact of poor infrastructure, player welfare, and the future of the game in South Sudan. Sports Hunter South Sudan: What was your reaction to the postponement of the playoff between Gurei City FC and Super Stars FC Bor? Sam Surur Dante: It’s disappointing because it was a highly anticipated match. However, the poor infrastructure—particularly at Bulluk Playground—made it difficult for the game to proceed. S...

 Sudan FA Olympic Team Kick Off Preparations in Berber Ahead of Key Friendlies The Sudan Football Association Olympic national team have officially launched their training camp in Berber, holding their first session on Monday evening under head coach Mohamed Mohi El-Din Al-Deiba. The camp signals the beginning of serious preparations ahead of the upcoming FIFA international window, where Sudan’s Olympic side are set to take on Equatorial Guinea and Zanzibar in international friendlies. With the technical staff keen to build a competitive and cohesive squad, the fixtures are expected to play a key role in assessing player readiness and tactical development ahead of future competitions.

 Sudan FA Calls Up 43 Players for Reserve National Team Camp in Al-Duweim The Sudan Football Association has announced a 43-player squad for the upcoming reserve national team training camp, scheduled to take place in Al-Duweim following the Eid al-Fitr holiday. The selected players, drawn from various domestic clubs, will be overseen by a technical staff led by Kifah Saleh Al-Jaili, alongside Salah Nour El-Din, Mohamed Al-Fateh Tabeez, Ahmed Al-Nour, and Ihab Abu Idris. The call-up forms part of the federation’s broader preparations for upcoming competitions, with a strong focus on developing young talents and strengthening the pipeline for the senior national team. The squad will enter camp after Eid, where players will undergo an intensive training program covering both physical conditioning and tactical preparation. Meanwhile, Hassan Mohamed Abdelbagi, a member of the National Teams Committee and supervisor of the reserve team, confirmed that all arrangements for the camp have ...

 Venus International FA Start U17 Girls Cup With a 3-1 Win Over Hai Baraka FA By: Emmanuel Patrick Laku | Sports Hunter South Sudan  Juba, Bulluk Playground – Wednesday Morning: Venus International Football Academy kicked off their U17 Girls Cup campaign with an impressive 3-1 victory over Hai Baraka Football Academy. Nyanyai Ahol opened the scoring early in the first half, setting the tone for Venus. The lead doubled after Maneno James unfortunately netted an own goal, sending Venus into halftime 2-0 up. After the break, Monica Nyanyiel sealed the win for Venus, despite Maneno James pulling one back for Hai Baraka. With the win, Venus top Group A with 3 points, while Hai Baraka sit bottom with 0 points. The first edition of the U17 Girls Cup brought together 16 girls’ football academies.  The tournament, organised by the South Sudan Football Federation, aims to help select players for the U17 girls’ national team, giving young talents a platform to showcase their skills....

The U-17 Girls Cup officially kicked off this morning at Bulluk Playground in Juba, showcasing some of the brightest young talents in South Sudan. Organised by the South Sudan Football Federation, the tournament features 16 football academies competing for glory and a chance to impress national team selectors. The opening match sees Hai Al-Baraka Academy face Venus International Football Academy , kicking off an exciting competition.  Group Draw Group A: Venus International Academy, Hai Al-Baraka Academy, Juba Academy, Hyper Academy Group B: Blue Wave Academy, Juba City Academy, Maluth Academy, Premious Academy Group C: Eloi Nursery Academy, Victoria Academy, Lion of Africa Academy, Everest High Soccer Academy Group D: Jamus Academy, Jabal Star Academy, Eden Academy, Munuki Academy Tournament Format The top two teams from each group advance to the quarter-finals , with winners moving on to the semi-finals and ultimately the final to determine the champions. Pri...

 El Merriekh SC Bentiu Beat Viva Stars FC 2-0 in Friendly at Bulluk Playground Juba, Soutb Sudan - 18th March 2026 - South Sudan Premier League leaders El Merriekh SC Bentiu continued their preparations for upcoming league fixtures with a 2-0 friendly win over Viva Stars FC at Bulluk Playground, Juba, on Wednesday. Tot Maet opened the scoring in the first half for the Bentiu-based side, before Mohammed Musa sealed the victory with a second goal. The friendly served as a key warm-up for both sides: Coach Husein Ibrahim used it to fine-tune his team ahead of their next Premier League matches, while Coach Simon Lagu’s Viva Stars focused on preparations for their Konyokonyo League clash against El Merriekh SC. El Merriekh SC currently sit atop the South Sudan Premier League, while Viva Stars are positioned in the middle of the Konyokonyo League standings.

 Atlabara FC Winger Jonathan Gem Dropped from South Sudan Senior Squad After Friendly By Emmanuel Patrick Laku Lo Flora | Sports Hunter South Sudan Juba, South Sudan – 14 March 2026 – Atlabara FC winger Jonathan Gem has been dropped from the South Sudan senior men’s national team after featuring in the Bright Stars’ 2–0 friendly win over Holy Family at Juba National Stadium on Saturday. The 18-year-old, called up to the senior squad for the first time, came on as a second-half substitute in the match. Following the game, Gem took to Facebook to express his gratitude: "I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to the SSFF and the coaching staff for the opportunity to represent my nation. I’m grateful for the experience, lessons, and what I’ve learned. Wishing the team all the best for the Djibouti games! Go Bright Stars” The Bright Stars will face Djibouti in the AFCON 2027 preliminary round on 26 and 29 March at Juba National Stadium.  The team is under interim coach Cyprian Ash...