Clearance Operation Begins as El Merriekh Playground Returns to Sport

JUBA – A long-awaited clearance operation has begun at El Merriekh Playground in Hai Malakal, marking a significant step toward restoring the community sports facility to its intended purpose.

Local youth, led by Hai Malakal Quarter Council Secretary Bond Isaac, assisted in removing parked vehicles and clearing the area, which had been occupied for years by informal businesses, including tea stalls, food vendors, and car traders.

Excavators were seen working around the playground as efforts got underway to reclaim the ground for sporting activities. The facility, which serves as the traditional home of Al Etihad SC,and El Merriekh FC Juba has been largely inaccessible for football and other community sports since 2020 due to the extensive commercial occupation of the site.

The clearance follows a series of government decisions dating back to 2021, when authorities moved to preserve the land for public use as a football ground.

For residents, players, and local football stakeholders, the operation represents renewed hope that El Merriekh Playground can once again become a hub for youth development, recreation, and grassroots football in Hai Malakal.

Photo: Community members and local youth assist in the clearance of El Merriekh Playground as restoration works begin in Hai Malakal, Juba.