The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) on Saturday donated sportswear to female rugy players in Juba.
Ademola Olajide, the Country Representative of UNFPA said that the donation is part of their effort to promote gender and positive social norms among female rugby players in the country.
“We will continue to leverage the platform of sports to challenge social and gender biases and also promote gender equality and women empowerment,” Olajide said during the donation at Dr. Biar Sport complex.
The rugby equipment was handed over to Tag Rugby Trust South Sudan a local NGO.
“Rugby is beyond sports in South Sudan, it promotes discipline, hard-working, unity and perception about girls that they too can play and expect to bring medals home in future,” Olajide said.
Edward Settimo Yubu, the Director General for Sports at the National Ministry of Youth and Sports said that there is need to support and strengthen the game of rugby from grassroots to pave way for local players to participate at international level.
Lobojja Ceasor Ronald, the President of Tag Rugby Trust South Sudan said that they have opened three grassroots training camps for rugby, adding that they are working to raise grassroots rugby.
‘We have training camps for children from 6 years to 17 years under Tag Rugby programs, rugby attracts them and we give them more than just rugby, teaching them about other aspects of life,” Ronald said.
“We hope to keep growing sports and keep raising kids as better citizens, in two years we want to have a national team, we want to take South Sudan to an international level in rugby,” he added.
