Uzbekistan hit South Sudan 3-0 in friendly encounter
South Sudan’s Bright Stars were defeated 3-0 by Uzbekistan in a FIFA international friendly, the first loss for Italian Coach Stefano Cusin, who took over the team last September.
The South Sudan boys left the country on Tuesday and landed safely in Dubai to participate in two FIFA international window friendlies, one of which ended 3-0 to Uzbekistan. They will not play Jordan on the 31st of this month.
Uzbekistan scored the earliest goal in the 5th minute to hold control of the game after poor defending from the Bright Star side.
Uzbekistan added their second goal in the 28th minute and the first half ended 2-0 to the winners. They added the third goal in the 66th minute after a Bright Star defender fouled an Uzbekistan player inside the sixteenth-yard box. The Uzbekistan striker took the easy one, sending Majak Mawith Maling, the Bright Star goalkeeper, in the opposite direction.
They now have to hope for their next friendly against Jordan to either lose again or do something better for the fans to smile.
In brief discussions with The City Review during their last training session in Juba, the Bright Star’s head, Stefano Cusin, said his players were ready to face their first international games under his command but stressed that it wasn’t an easy game.
He confirmed that all of the players are fully prepared to play in the FIFA World Cup match between Uzbekistan and Jordan.
Currently, Uzbekistan is ranked at 84 while Jordan is ranked at 90 in the December 23, 2021, released FIFA World Rankings. While the Bright Stars of South Sudan are ranked at 167 with 980.25 points.
However, Coach Cusin believed that playing against the top-ranked teams would be a decent experience for the players and a chance to showcase their talents while also raising South Sudan’s flag higher.
“The boys (players) are completely ready physically and mentally, but as you know, both Uzbekistan and Jordan are better teams in FIFA rankings than we are, so I think it is a chance for us to perform to our best and perhaps get a good result,” Mr Cusin said.
According to the Bright Star manager, playing and getting results against such highly ranked teams, would build confidence, and give players a chance to showcase their talents to the world.
The friendlies will be the first-ever competitive test for the Italian since he took over the Bright Stars in September 2021.
Higher expectations
People’s expectations are higher as every fan hopes to see results soon to keep their love for Bright Star’s football team.
“I don’t know why people keep saying the South Sudan team is still new. They are still building the team when we already have more than a full squad of South Sudanese players out there who can do something better than always leaving us (fans) disappointed. We want our football team to be like the basketball boys. “
“This is the spirit we want and our footballers and the SSFA administration should promote among our players. Of course, these guys from basketball appeared for the first time, and they made the record and put us on the map, “Yaba James Diar, one of the Bright Stars’ veteran fans, expressed
Diar expects better results from the new leadership of the Bright Stars, saying getting better results would make South Sudanese think that they are still new and would perform better in the future.
However, the Bright Star head coach was repeatedly quoted saying the fans need to keep patient, adding that there is much needed in terms of identifying better players that can build beatable teams in the region.
Stefano Cusin said the outcome of the games doesn’t mean anything to him because his focus is on building a team that gets the result during the AFCON qualifiers game against Djibouti in March.
“I understand, South Sudanese fans are waiting to see better results from the Bright Stars’ and that is the hope of everyone in the country, but I will still tell them to not have those high expectations. What we are doing now is preparing the team for the AFCON Qualifiers, “Cusin said.
While at Juba International Airport, on their way to Dubai on Tuesday, Thiong John, the head of the delegation, said that the FIFA International Friendlies will help to prepare the national team for its upcoming Africa Cup of Nations Qualification in 2023 in Ivory Coast.
Although Mr John expressed that the team is well prepared and expected to perform well in the two friendly matches,
Among the delegation were South Sudan Football Association (SSFA) President Augustino Maduot and his other senior board members.
Below is coach Stefano Cusin’s 25-man squad that travels to Dubai to face Uzbekistan and Jordan in FIFA International Friendlies on the 27th and 31st of January in Dubai.
The goalkeeping department includes Majak Mawith Maling, Juma Jenaro Awad, and Ramadan John Mayik.
Included are: Omot Sebit David, Rashid Toha Freedom, Samuel Taban Malish, John Kuol Chol, Mutawakkil Abdelkairm, and Akol Godfrey.
Midfielders are; Wani Ivan Marcello, Emmanuel William Gama, Asad Abdullah Musa, Data Elly Christopher, Chol Peter Bentiu, Maker Marial Maker, Vitali Paulino, Khamis Atari Tobs, Jackson Morgan, and Kur Gai Kur.
Forwards include Okello Tito Odong, Machop Malual Chol, Loki Emmanuel Peter, Valentino Yuel, Abraham Majok, William Akio, and Obony Along Achuil.
