South Sudan Football Association (SSFA) said it rejected the request by the Juba Local Football Association (JLFA) to lift the 12- months ban restricting the latter from accessing the eastern section of Juba national stadium.
“About the appeal of JLFA, the General Assembly entirely rejected and dismissed the appeal and directed members of for the formation of the steering committee to run the activities of Juba Local Football Association,” Albino Kuek Deng, the SSFA spokesperson told journalists on Thursday in Aweil town of Northern Bahr El Ghazal state.
The SSFA held it’s the 8th ordinary general assembly meeting in Aweil town.
In January, the SSFA banned the board members of the Juba Local Football Association from engaging in all sporting activities.
The ban stems from a long-running dispute over the ownership of Juba national football stadium, currently under construction.
“The General Assembly as well directed for evacuation of any property stationed in the eastern area of the stadium to allow for the smooth construction of the remaining part of Juba national stadium,” Deng said.
The fight over control of the national stadium broke out in October 2022, when work on the eastern wing, which functions as the facility’s parking lot began.
The Juba Local Football Association alleged that the management (SSFA) of the stadium encroached on their land where the eastern wing of the stadium is being developed.
Augustino Maduot Parek, the President of South Sudan Football Association urged all South Sudanese and the other well-wishers to contribute to the development of football in the country.
“We have plans to develop football for the benefit of our country. We call on well-wishers to support football, it will benefit the coming generation and the entire nation,” Parek said.
Juba Local Football Association is an umbrella of local football associations including Atlabara FC, Munuki FC among others. The Association prepares local tournaments in Juba and also has representatives in the South Sudan Football Association.
