Amarat United beats Kator FC to win Juba Cup

Amarat United Football Club won the Juba Local Football Association (JLFA) 2021 South Sudan Cup for the second time after beating Kator FC 4-2 on penalties on Saturday.

The match finished 0-0 in normal 90 minutes before proceeding to the spot-kicks. The game was played at Buluk playground, which was filled mostly with Kator fans hoping to celebrate the team’s second Juba local trophy since 2017.

On paper, Kator looked like the favourites to clinch the cup but Amarat United who the underdogs proved everyone wrong as they punished Kator for not taking chances created in the first half.

Kator missed two of their five penalties, with their left-back Bakosoro hitting a goal post.

Kator goalkeeper saved Amarat’s third player’s penalty to keep the shootout active but was not to be. Kator’s player fired wide and threw away the hopes of bouncing back. 

Kator’s bid to end their 4-year wait for a South Sudan local title ended in a familiar painful defeat in the penalty shootout.

It was distress for Kator’s manager, fans, and his players, who had gone into the final on a wave of belief and high excitement.

The game registered good attendance as the spectators among them the representatives from the diplomatic circles took to the stands to watch it.

“Yeah, this is what we have been waiting for, we deserve it although many underrated us we worked for it to achieve [it]. I am very excited with the way we performed today,” Amarat United FC Captain Ayuru Khamis shouted amid the celebrations.

Amarat United now joins Malakia of Torit, Zalan FC of Rumbek and Yambio Stars as the teams that have won the championship of their Location Football Association (LFA) in finals.

The four teams are now waiting for other local football association to end their competitions.

The winners of those Local Football Associations will be representing their association in the national competition, where they will face winning clubs from other states in the national tournament.