Bright Stars to play Kuwait, Azerbaijan
The South Sudan Football Association (SSFA) has revealed that the Bright Stars Senior Men’s Team is set to play friendly matches against Kuwait and Azerbaijan in FIFA’s window break this month.
Speaking exclusively to The City Review yesterday, SSFA Acting Deputy Secretary-General, Joseph Apai, revealed that FIFA had confirmed that the country’s national senior men’s team would be playing two friendly matches in Dubai against Kuwait and Azerbaijan.
“All of the games will be played in Dubai during the upcoming FIFA break,” the SSFA Ag. Secretary revealed.
According to him, the Bright Stars head coach has already summoned the players who will take part in the two friendlies.
“The players were already selected, both local, regional, and international.” The home players are already here, and other outside players will be arriving shortly before the 21st of this month. Training will kick off immediately while their trip to Dubai will be confirmed later, ” he added.
Last week, South Sudan’s Senior National Team Head Coach, Stefano Cusin, selected 12 locally-based players to prepare for the January 2022 FIFA Calendar.
The players that got Cusin’s call included: Ramadan (Malakia FC, Juba), Omot Sebit David (El Merriekh, Juba), Rehan Angier Malong ( Munuki FC ), Dominic Angelo Kornelio (Munuki FC), William Gama Emmanuel (Malakia FC), Samuel Taban Malish (Kator FC), Jose Kuch Nyuar (Munuki FC), Mutwakil Abdelkairm ( Atlabara FC), Vitali Poulino (Rainbow FC, Juba), Michael Marko (Amarat United FC) and Obony Along Achuil (Gudele FC).
In November last year, the Bright Stars’ journey to Dubai was postponed after the 29-man squad failed to get visas.
South Sudan was supposed to play two friendlies against the Gambia and Algeria. Their first match was to be played against the Gambia on a Saturday, followed by a game against Algeria.
The friendly was supposed to be the first-ever competitive test for the Italian since he took over the Bright Stars in September 2021.
“Due to a delay in visa issuance, the team awaited the visa for days in vain. Some players received visas [but] the majority had not yet received [it] leading to the postponement of the travel today, ” the SSFA confirmed last year.
