SSFA suspends three ‘defiant’ Munuki players
The South Sudan Football Association (SSFA) has suspended three Munuki Football Club players for failing to turn up when called upon by the national team.
According to the information established by The City Review, the three players got calls from the Bright Stars’ head coach, Stefano Cusin, for the FIFA international friendly, but the trio was blocked by the club’s manager.
The directive means that Dominic Angelo, Rehan Angier Malong, and Joseph Kuch are suspended from participating in the Juba local football association league for the next three games.
The decision was made by the SSFA council meeting, which was chaired by President Gen. Augustino Maduot.
The suspension letter signed by SSFA Secretary-General Victor Lawrence Lual reads, “In accordance with the General Regulations of the South Sudan Football Association 2012-2019, Chapter xi, Article 119 (a), three football players from Munuki Football Club are suspended for three (3) official matches by their respective local football associations beginning on the date of this resolution.”
Immediate action
SSFA further directed the Juba Local Football Association to take the necessary measures and implement the decision immediately, while demanding official communication on the measures taken against the club by the Juba local FA.
It also issued a general warning to all the clubs and players against disrespecting national team calls, adding such behaviour should cause more penalties in case it happens again.
“Juba Local Football Association, in their capacity, is directed to implement this resolution strictly and take investigations and administrative measures accordingly against Munuki Football Club for not respecting the call of the national team. Steps and actions taken should be communicated to SSFA.
“A general final warning is hereby given to all players and clubs, that if one repeats the same action; it shall be taken against them in accordance with article 119 (b) without sympathy,” SSFA SG’s letter added.
The Juba Local Football Association is yet to communicate what measures will be taken against Munuki FC since it was the club’s management that refused to release the players on request.
According to SSFA Chapter XI National Teams ACT, Article 117, ‘‘it is permissible for the board of directors to prohibit the players who have been selected for national teams from participating with their clubs in any match and shall allow them to play with their teams in the competition from within the camp of the national team for four days, from the date of the match if it is inside South Sudan and seven days from the date of the match if it is outside South Sudan.’’
It further states that ‘‘if any of the players selected for national teams are absent for exercises, or delayed from entering the camp, that player will be suspended for a period of time or for a number of competitive matches with their clubs, in accordance with what is specified by the board of directors or the concerned association in respect of the national teams.’’
Article 119b also adds that ‘‘if a player refuses to join any of the national teams or refuses to play a match without giving any acceptable reasons, the board of directors or the concerned association shall ban the activity of that player for two years, and a petition is not permissible in this case.”
