Gen. Parek vows to transform the country’s football

The newly-elected South Sudan Football Association (SSFA) President General Augustino Maduot Parek (pictured) has promised to improve football standards in the country. The former Director of Passports, Nationality and Immigration won the elections by 20 votes out of 37 voters on Thursday in Juba. In his speech shortly after being declared the winner of the SSFA presidency, Maduot said football as a game has many essential elements adding that most importantly there was a need to standardise it in the country. “I want to reiterate that we will place the welfare and future of all sectors of our fraternity at the root of my agenda during my term as President.” “Improving the standard of the football games in the country stands to be my first priority,” he added. However, he said to improve football in the country, they need to fight vigilantly to present good ideas for reforming and developing football in the country. He said it was a monumental responsibility that he accepted with “great humility” and “deep appreciation.” The president-elect called on those who lost to join hands together in order to take the country’s football fraternity forward. “The real work starts today, and the first order of business is to appeal to my fellow candidates to come together in solidarity with us as we move forward together,” he said. Gen. Maduot believes that football is an important aspect of nation-building that requires collective work. “The pride that we talk about is not just when we win games against other countries, but more importantly, when we come together in our diversity as one people,” he stressed. Maduot said embracing unity will bring pride among South Sudanese adding that football is one of the best tools for that noble objective. He also added that infrastructure is at the core of the challenges facing the game of football in our country, a problem he seeks to resolve. “My agenda calls for serious focus on enhancing our flagship stadia and ensuring that more fields are developed across every state, county and Payam of this great country.” He said he will continue with resource mobilization efforts and partnership work with regional and international football associations to achieve the aforementioned objectives. “We shall be active participants with CECAFA, CAF, and FIFA as we support the efforts for the equitable development of football across the globe while abiding by all the regulations and rules of these regional, continental and global governing bodies,” Gen. Maduot revealed. He added that “We shall also work hard on our partnership with our government, at all levels, from the National Ministry of Youth and Sports to the State Ministries and other concerned institutions.” He said integrity and fiscal responsibility are important pillars of his manifesto, adding that adhering to them will be “expected from all of us”. Gen. Maduot became victorious on the second round after the first round went without no candidate had reached the 50 plus 1 per cent threshold for two seats. He defeated the ex-president Francis Amin, and popular candidate the former International referrer Lual Maluk Lual and two others. He went to the second round of the votes after he and Lual Maluk defeated Francis Amin, Peter Achuil where Mr Maluk got 11 out of 37 in the final tally. Madut is the former director Gen. of the directorate of passports, Nationality and immigration he is also the founder of the Citizens Club that plays in the second division in the Juba local league. He is also the current president of the Juba Local Basketball Association (JLBA) He will be deputized by Charles Udwar He will govern the SSFA for a period of four years starting July 22, 2021 to July 22, 2025. Gen. Augustino acquired 20 votes out of 37 votes, while the second runner up, Mr Laul Maluk got eleven (11) votes Francis Amin obtained four (4) votes and Mr Shafiq Gordon got only two (2) votes, while Mr Peter Achuel was knocked out after receiving no votes in the second round of the election. Meanwhile, the post of Vice President was won by Charles Udwar with 21 Votes, Makur Majok got nine (9) votes, Venasio Amum earned four (4) votes, and Abdulrahman Rajab got 3 votes.