Mohammed Both Resigns After Ethiopia Defeat, Blames “Lack of Foundation” in South Sudan Goalkeeping

 

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.

Q: Was this decision planned beforehand, or was it a direct reaction to the result?

Mohammed Both:
I would say it’s a mix of both. I have considered resigning several times before, looking at the situation from different angles.

Q: From your perspective as a goalkeeper coach, where did things go wrong across both legs?

Mohammed Both:
The main issue is the lack of proper foundation at club and academy level. There is a clear weakness in the basics.

Q: What key areas within the national team—and specifically the goalkeeping department—needed improvement?

Mohammed Both:
Basic skills. Receiving, passing, positioning, covering, and marking. Goalkeepers need to work on the fundamentals. The real solution is to establish a specialized goalkeeping academy to address the shortage of qualified goalkeeper coaches.

Q: You mentioned that everyone must take responsibility. What exactly do you mean by that?

Mohammed Both:
Everyone must be accountable according to their role and position.

Q: Do you think the administrative and technical structures provided enough support to the team?

Mohammed Both:
There was support, yes—but not at the level required. It could have been much better.

Q: What urgent changes do you believe are necessary moving forward?

Mohammed Both:
First, there must be a meeting with coaches to listen to the challenges they face. They should also be required to present clear plans to address technical issues and develop women’s football across all age categories. As a goalkeeper coach, I already have a plan to fix these technical problems—but technical work needs strong administrative backing.

Q: Over your five years with the team, what progress have you seen among the goalkeepers?

Mohammed Both:
There has been noticeable improvement in some goalkeepers, but it is still not enough to compete at the international level.

Q: What are the biggest challenges facing women goalkeepers in South Sudan?

Mohammed Both:
There are very few goalkeeper coaches in women’s clubs. In addition, many club and academy administrators lack awareness of the importance and role of the goalkeeper in a team.

Q: After five years of service, what is your biggest takeaway from this experience?

Mohammed Both:
A specialized goalkeeping academy is the only real solution to the goalkeeper problem.

Q: What message do you have for the players you worked with?

Mohammed Both:
Focus on individual training and don’t rely only on club sessions. I thank them for the wonderful moments we shared in training, and I hope to see many of them become professional players abroad one day.

Q: What would you like to say to South Sudan’s football fans following your departure?

Mohammed Both:
Thank you for your support and encouragement. I hope criticism is directed at the administrative and technical structures without targeting the players. I take full responsibility for the goalkeeping errors.

Final Word

Mohammed Both:
I also hope the media plays its role in highlighting issues and exposing weaknesses at all levels.

Sports Hunter South Sudan:
Thank you for speaking with us. We wish you all the best in your next chapter.