Exclusive Interview: Rizik Hakim Outlines His Vision for Al Ghazala SC Wau Ahead of CAF Confederation Cup Campaign

By

 


Interview by Emmanuel Patrick Laku | Sports Hunter South Sudan

Newly appointed Al Ghazala SC Wau head coach Rizik Hakim is preparing for a historic continental challenge after taking charge of the club ahead of their participation in the preliminary round of the CAF Confederation Cup.

The CAF B Diploma holder arrives with extensive experience across South Sudan football, having worked with Atlabara, Malakia, Kator as assistant and head coach on three occasions, Viva Star FC, Al Rabita FC as head coach twice, Merriekh FC Juba as head coach twice, and Jamus FC as an assistant coach.

Hakim has also served as an assistant coach with the South Sudan Senior Women’s National Team and the South Sudan Men’s National Team.

His coaching career has been highlighted by success at both club and academy level. As head coach of Kator FC, he guided the club to two South Sudan Cup final (Juba)  appearances during the 2021–22 and 2022–23 seasons. While at Future Stars Football Academy, he helped the academy win the Mubarak Wol Memorial Tournament organised by Al Garagir Football Academy, where the academy's U20 team claimed the 2023 title.

Ahead of Al Ghazala’s new season and continental campaign, Hakim spoke exclusively to Sports Hunter South Sudan about his appointment, preparations, football philosophy, and ambitions with the Wau-based club.

Exclusive Interview

Congratulations on your appointment. How does it feel to take charge of Al Ghazala SC Wau at such an important moment for the club?

Rizik Hakim:
“It feels good. I am humbled and looking forward to serving them with all I have.”

Al Ghazala will represent South Sudan in the preliminary round of the CAF Confederation Cup. How excited are you about leading the club on the continental stage?

Rizik Hakim:
“I am excited. It is an extra-mile opportunity to add value and experience to our football and myself.”

What are your immediate priorities as you prepare the team for the CAF Confederation Cup qualifiers?

Rizik Hakim:
“Of course, first, assembling the squad for pre-season and preparing tirelessly to present a tough encounter in the August 15 Super Cup. Then we will follow through the league as we prepare for the preliminaries.”

When do you plan to start pre-season training?

Rizik Hakim:
“Probably in the middle of this month.”

What challenges do you anticipate in continental competition, and how do you plan to overcome them?

Rizik Hakim:
“The level and experience of stakeholders involved, logistics, and human resources, to mention a few. We will adapt and overcome.”

What style of football do you want Al Ghazala to be known for under your leadership?

Rizik Hakim:
“You know well I am a student of Ustaz Bilal, right? I play total football: possession with purpose, organised defence, and quick transitions (+ve/-ve).”

The club qualified for the CAF Confederation Cup after finishing runners-up in the South Sudan Cup. How important is it to build on that achievement?

Rizik Hakim:
“It is very important. We pick from there moving forward with significant additional inputs.”

What message do you have for the Al Ghazala supporters, who will be dreaming of seeing the club make history in Africa?

Rizik Hakim:
“Continue helping by supporting, observing concerns, and addressing them constructively for positive change.”

Finally, what would success look like for you in your first season with Al Ghazala SC Wau?

Rizik Hakim:
“Meeting the intended season targets. Continuous improvement among others.”

Coach, thank you for your time and insights. We wish you all the best on your new journey.

Rizik Hakim:
“I appreciate your engagement.”

Hakim now begins the task of building a competitive Al Ghazala side as the club prepares for its first major continental test. With a wealth of coaching experience behind him, the new head coach will be aiming to guide the Wau-based club into a new chapter both domestically and on the African stage.

Interview by Emmanuel Patrick Laku
Sports Hunter South Sudan

Comments

Post a Comment

Most viewed posts (last 30 days)

South Sudan Names Provisional Squad for FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers

By
Image
By: Emmanuel Patrick Laku / Sports Hunter South Sudan - Juba, August 20, 2025   South Sudan senior national team head coach, Nicolas Dupuis has named a 27-man provisional squad ahead of the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026 African Qualifiers. The squad announcement was made public on Wednesday, August 20, through the official Facebook page of the South Sudan Football Federation (SSFF). The selected players are set to begin training next week in preparation for a critical double-header against DR Congo and Mauritania. Currently sitting fifth in Group B with just three points, the Bright Stars remain winless in their qualification campaign. They suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat to the Leopards of DR Congo on Matchday 5 in Kinshasa — a result they will be eager to avenge on home soil. South Sudan will host DR Congo on September 5 at the Juba National Stadium for Matchday 7, before traveling to Nouakchott to face Mauritania on September 9. With only a few matches remaining, Coach Dupuis and hi...
Read full story

SOUTH SUDAN FORMER INTERIM COACH ASHU BACKS BRIGHT STARS TO COMPETE IN TOUGH AFCON 2027 GROUP

By
Image
South Sudan former interim head coach Cyprian Ashu believes the Bright Stars can challenge for qualification in Group B of the TotalEnergies AFCON 2027 qualifiers despite being drawn against Egypt, Angola and Malawi. Ashu, who was appointed as interim coach on March 12, 2026, in his second spell with the Bright Stars, successfully guided South Sudan past Djibouti in the preliminary round to secure a place in the group stages. Reacting to the draw, the Cameroonian tactician described the group as “interesting, promising and very difficult,” while highlighting the pedigree of African giants Egypt. “Egypt, we all know, has won so many African Cup of Nations trophies, probably only rivaled by Cameroon. They are also a very good team,” Ashu said. He also pointed to the strength of Angola and Malawi, two sides he has closely analysed and faced in recent qualification campaigns. “Angola is a very good team with many players based in Portugal, while Malawi are also a side we know very well,” ...
Read full story

Ethiopia Cruise Past South Sudan with Emphatic Aggregate Victory

By
Image
  Ethiopia’s U-17 women’s side delivered a dominant performance in Addis Ababa, thrashing South Sudan 6-0 in the second leg of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup 2026 qualifiers. Building on their first-leg advantage, the Ethiopians showed class and control throughout the encounter at the Addis Ababa Stadium, leaving South Sudan with little room to respond. The result sealed an emphatic 8-0 aggregate victory, confirming Ethiopia’s progression to the next round in convincing fashion. Second Leg: 🇪🇹 6-0 🇸🇸 Aggregate: 🇪🇹 8-0 🇸🇸 Competition: FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup 2026 Qualifiers
Read full story

OPINION | When Silence Becomes Structure: Juba Queens and the Transparency Gap in South Sudan Football

By
Image
© South Sudan Football Federation / Official Media By Emmanuel Patrick Laku | Sports Hunter South Sudan Football does not fail only when rules are broken. It fails more quietly—when rules exist, but their application cannot be seen. In South Sudan, the emergence of Juba Queens FC has become more than the story of a new women’s club. It has become a stress test of football governance itself: whether the game is guided by written regulation, or by procedures that operate without public explanation. Because in football administration, what is not explained is quickly replaced by what is assumed. And what is assumed soon becomes accepted. The case of Juba Queens exposes a governance gap in South Sudan football where regulation exists in practice but not in transparency. A System That Operates Without Being Seen According to individuals familiar with domestic football administration, Juba Queens were registered directly under the South Sudan Football Federation (SSFF) rather than through th...
Read full story

Bright Stars Begin Preparations for 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers

By
Image
By: Emmanuel Patrick Laku - Juba, South Sudan – Saturday, 23 August 2025 South Sudan’s senior men’s national football team, the Bright Stars, kicked off their preparations for the FIFA World Cup 2026 African Qualifiers with a training session at the Juba National Stadium on Saturday morning. The session was conducted under the guidance of Assistant Coach Simon James and Fitness Coach Brin George, with players from the South Sudan Premier League taking part. The foreign-based players, alongside Head Coach Nicolas Dupuis, are expected to join the squad in the coming days. Photos from the first training session, shared on the South Sudan Football Federation (SSFF) official Facebook page, revealed the return of coach Kennedy Saturlino, popularly known as Dida . Saturlino, who had earlier been replaced by Mohammed Seif Both as the national team’s goalkeeping coach, was spotted back with the team, though no official communication regarding his reinstatement has been issued. Currently si...
Read full story

Merriekh SC Bentiu Set for Maiden CECAFA Kagame Cup Appearance

By
Image
By: Emmanuel Patrick Laku - Juba, South Sudan – El Merriekh SC Bentiu will make their first-ever appearance in the CECAFA Kagame Cup 2025, scheduled for September 2–15 in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, with the draw set for August 26th. The South Sudan Premier League club was nominated by the South Sudan Football Federation (SSFF) after Kator FC turned down an invitation to participate in the tournament.  This development followed CAF’s decision to reject Kator from representing the country in the CAF Confederation Cup. El Merriekh’s involvement in the Kagame Cup is seen as a crucial preparation for their upcoming campaign in the CAF Confederation Cup, where they will represent South Sudan at continental level.  The tournament will give the Bentiu-based side exposure to regional competition and help them build the experience needed for the challenges ahead. The Kagame Cup will bring together 12 teams, including: Singida Black Stars FC (Tanzania), APR FC (Rwanda), Vipers SC (Ugan...
Read full story

Shadows Behind the Touchline: The Nicolas Dupuis Saga and the Crisis of Governance in South Sudan Football

By
Image
Shadows Behind the Touchline: The Nicolas Dupuis Saga and the Crisis of Governance in South Sudan Football Opinion By: Emmanuel Patrick Laku — Sports Hunter South Sudan In global football, professionalism is not a luxury. It is the baseline on which every credible football project is built. Contracts, transparency, communication, accountability—these are the pillars that sustain national teams. Yet in South Sudan, a prolonged and deeply unsettling saga surrounding Bright Star head coach Nicolas Dupuis has revealed the fragility of these foundations. His dispute with the South Sudan Football Federation (SSFF) has evolved from a private grievance into a public test of governance—and the silence around it is now louder than any explanation offered. At the centre of it all stands a single question: Can a football nation succeed when its leadership refuses to speak clearly, act transparently, or honour its own commitments? A Press Conference That Broke the Quiet The turning point un...
Read full story

Orat Explains Kator FC Exit, Cites Lack of Respect from New Leadership

By
Image
By: Emmanuel Patrick Laku | Sports Hunter South Sudan Juba, South Sudan - 9th April 20226 - Former Kator FC head coach Nicola Peter Orat has opened up on the reasons behind his resignation, pointing to a breakdown in relations with the club’s new administration. In an interview conducted by Hatrick 24 and monitored by Sports Hunter South Sudan, Orat said he felt undervalued and disrespected by members of the newly appointed steering committee. “The reason for the resignation is the new administration. The newly appointed people did not give me my value and were not respecting me,” he said. The coach, who had initially chosen to remain silent, confirmed he decided to speak publicly to clarify his position. “I had opted not to discuss what happened, but today I’m talking in the media.” Orat stepped down shortly after Kator’s draw with Lion Hunters FC in the South Sudan Premier League — a match that saw him face his curren side. Background Kator FC’s steering committee officially accept...
Read full story

Soanarivo’s Goalkeeper Routine Caught in Action During Olympic Qualifier in Juba

By
Image
Photo by: Emmanuel Patrick Laku | Sports Hunter South Sudan Caption: Madagascar goalkeeper Anastasie Soanarivo was seen spitting on her gloves during the CAF Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Qualifiers match against the South Sudan women’s national team at Juba National Stadium on 9 June 2026. The in-game routine is a common goalkeeper technique used to moisten the latex and improve grip and control of the ball in real time.
Read full story

🇸🇸 EXCLUSIVE | Viola Doki: “We Will Come Back Stronger for South Sudan”

By
Image
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...
Read full story