Radio Miraya
2788: Roundtable: The Role of Sports in Promoting National Identity and Unity
[Music] The round table. Welcome to Rademarayar, round table with me Jyaj Garan. We are discussing today the role of sport in promoting national identity and unity. Over 70% of South Sudanese population is said to be of the youth age bracket. The history of the civil war in the country has required a majority of youth involvement in negative development that include, among others, political violence, inter-communal conflict, cutter wrestling, and other crimes. During conflict, the youth are the most fragmented entity without any value that identified them as a purpose-driven entity or unites under one national identity. Of reason, the peace-building agents organize the variety of sports such as wrestling, football, basketball, volleyball, racing, among other across the country. The standing performance of bright stars in basketball and Olympic games that are ongoing in Paris have demonstrated beyond any reasonable doubt. That is, sport can force unity and collate citizens around common value and identity in South Sudan. In the words of Nelson Mandela, sport has the power to share in the world. It has the power to inspire. It has the power to unite people in a way, in a way that little else does. It speaks to youth in language they understand, is what can create hope where once there was only despair. So what role can sport play in promoting national identity and unity in South Sudan, joining us to discuss this important role of sport in promoting national identity and unity in South Sudan are my guests today, Honorable Achil Malik Foma, SG of South Sudan, Basket Bold Federation, welcome to the Honorable Achil Malik. We are also joined by Honorable Tong Deng Anay, who is a former minister of sport in northern Bercazale State, and currently an independent researcher within Cuba. We shall be joined by Honorable Agustino Madhwar Parhek, who is the president of South Sudan Football Association. In general, Samir Kamis, deputy president at the Athletics, South Sudan National Olympic Committee, they will join us shortly. Honorable Achil, can you give us the background as to what role has sport been playing senior time in Sudan, then into South Sudan, and understand also that you were among the founders of Twitch Mayadis Olympic in 1999 or something like that. One motivated you to engage youth in a sport, and how can this be replicated now, given our situation now, the fact that youth are so much fragmented, youth are so much engaged in negative developments, they do not produce anything tangible and beneficial to the country and they went to themselves, Honorable Achil. Thank you, South Sudan. Actually, your question is actually answered by the theme of this presentation, which is national identity and unity of purpose for basketball, excellency, being demonstrated today by our pride stars, down nicknamed the giants of the Nile, that is an identity, and unity of purpose for us to be known as champions of Africa, which has already been accomplished by the pride stars, and being also known soon, not later, as a champion of the world. So those things are within our reach, definitely, and the pride star, the giants of the Nile, are on the path to do it, thanks to personal efforts by president of SSBF, and the legendary Lowell Day, and support from our president and the government, and the entire population of South Sudan. We have seen it started from Nairobi, and it is continued up to now, La Hadner Martellata everywhere, you have seen Africans gluing on the TV, and they are washing the giants of the Nile, we are being identified as the basketball nation. The way for what for sure is we have everything ready, except the constitution, but we have also done the Companies Act, and we have seen tourism here, very little part of the tourism, which is hotel, but these things can grow into hotel and eco-tourism, and basketball actually can become a very huge industry, because we have basketball African League, which can within a year or two become a rival to NBA in popularity and influence, will actually bypass European and Asian basketball leagues. Now this is a huge opportunity for business, if you mix them, support business with eco-tourism, South Sudan will not only remain on the top of the sports, but also business. Imagine with only Lowell and Manud coming from northern Bargadal, Lowell and Manud coming from Twitch County, which is Warrab State, only if you have another state and administrative area, we have one place, and one place making an influence, and we have clubs, we have ten clubs, imagine, competing, then we will be more attractive to business advertisement with the help of the media now, we will have a far, far more engaging activity. The sports develop a person to be team-made, they will also encourage solidarity, and nevertheless also allow you to accept the fit and celebrate responsibly, if you will, thank you. Given this background, what sport can do to person and what is what can do to communities and even to the country as large, and also the pride, the excellent performance of our national team is showcasing now, what ways can sport change the negative energies among the youth, so much energy among the youth, especially in rural areas, whereby they are engaged in cattle, in cattle raiding, they are engaged in revenge killing, they are engaged in aid, so many other crimes. So how can we transform these energies into, how can sport transform these energies into a productive activities that is of benefit to themselves and even to the nation? I wonder what I think, thank you very much, when we started to teach along to the sport for peace and development in 1999, immediately by 2003 it has already created, because we did it in partnership with UNICEFOLS, by 2003 it has already created an influence in the United Nations, in New York and the form United Nations Task Force on Sport for Peace, and the task force, you mean United Nations Task Force for Sport for Peace, it came as a result of two Olympics, because it was through UNICEF, because they were by partners. Now immediately the committee recommended 2006 to be the International Year for on Sport for Peace, but because of challenges that happened, we lost Kofi Annan and then also their person who was especially signed by Kofi Annan has his limitations, so the circumstances did not allow the 2006 to be celebrated at this, but nevertheless, within Twitch, many people could go on Google and see this, and how this has created an impact on the youth, and how the youth who have been fighting among themselves before are starting to visit themselves, because they were celebrating, waiting for the annual Twitch Olympics, you have seen recently their community to community, started with Agua Community Olympics, and then now it has gone into countless leaps, so it is this process that we should grow to community to community, so the Olympics Committee, globally they are already three organized Olympics models, there is the International Olympic Committee, which is IOC, which is actually for elites in sports, and the motto is the strongest, the fastest, all the best, that is the motto. We have special Olympics, which is for mentally retarded persons, and it was started in France, we have the Para Olympics, which is for persons with disabilities, a person with a physically challenging person, and that is it. So the Twitch Olympics came in as community to community sports, instead of living for elites or mentally retarded or physically challenging, now we are giving chance for the values of Olympiad values to bring it to the communities, and it is already happening. Okay, thank you very much, I will come back to you, especially how can we translate this thing into other communities, and how can we cross from community to community, have been this, I mean, have a national Olympic or whatever you would want to call it, I will come back to you later on, let me come to Honorable Tom, Honorable Tom, how can we, the same question, how can we share the negative energies that we see with the youth across the country, especially in rural areas, and even in towns, whereby they are engaged in conflict, whereby they are engaged in a revenge killing, wherever they engage in many other crimes, so how can we change this energy into productive energy, positively? Okay, no, thank you so much, Jim, for this question. I mean, this is a very important question, I can say, the question is how can we change the negative attitude of the youth in the rural areas and in town, I can say that the trend is already changing, because when I travel outside to the rural areas, I see a lot of football activities in different places, even at the rural community, where I have never seen this, what you see, you are playing football, which is a great thing, then when you come also to the state, headquarter, county, you find also some of the places have basketball court, that they are also being played, see the thing that you don't see in the last 10 or 15 years, you are not seeing those things, but they are already there now, so this is already a good thing that is changing the attitude, changing the attitude of a militia who are also preventing these youth to go and do cattle raiding, so because the youth were being hydraulic, they don't have any activities, and that was an opportunity for a militia group or warlord to record them and use them for those negative things, but now it's part is changing the youth attitude into a positive side, which is a very good thing, because the communities in the rural areas have a lot of opportunities that I use, there are so many young people that are available, and these young people need to be used, they are very active, they should not only be used on this part only, they can be used in agriculture, they can be used on community mobilization, in so many social activities that the youth can be very productive, so there is a great opportunity to change this negative attitude, and I'm confident to say that the trend is already changing, if you look at the percentage of the violence that used to be there, it has decreased significantly, and what we are doing is this, and we have to continue, we cannot just say that it has changed, we must continue to ensure that we remove the youth from these negative activities and put them into a productive kind of things where the youth can benefit among themselves, so like now, if you see the basket ball tournament that is going on at the moment in Paris Olympic, it has changed the world, not only the basket ball community, but the world is also done, you find everybody is focusing like today, their focus is to all fillets at 9 o'clock, 9pm, where South Sudan would be playing with Serbia, people did not even know seven people, but now people know that there is a country called Serbia, that it's playing with South Sudan today, unable to vote is waiting for that, I was so surprised on Wednesday, when I went to, oh okay, I was so surprised on Wednesday, when I went to a tournament in the evening, I couldn't find a share to sit, because I need an increment, I did not book a share, I thought that I, because normally I go to a tournament and I find a place to sit, but that evening of Wednesday, all the table were booked, if you don't have a table, you don't have a fillet, and I have to go, I have to go to find another fillet, where I can wait, where I can wait, there's what, that is already a positivity, and you see the youth and what impressed me most on that day, you know, most of the time South Sudan is the male dominated society, where where you go, everywhere you find most of the people are there men, but this day it was both, everybody was there, so this everyone was there, South Sudanese, whether men or women, they were all there, and this is the very significant change that we are seeing in our society, that the support lovers are there, people are happy with their country, they will support their country, they were all met about this, and this is something that was so unique, yeah, honorable tongue, as I know one time you were a politician, now you are an independent recession, how do you capture this and capitalize on it, and a device, and a device, the government and other agencies that are supporting youth to invest in the sport and maybe, capturing this as an opportunity, so that we don't miss this opportunity and you utilize it properly, how can we do it? No, actually, thank you, you know, that okay, what you are saying is actually something that I've already working on it, you know, at the moment I'm a member of National Youth and Sport Council, I'm a vice president of that National Youth and Sport Council, because we have a chairperson and I'm addicted to that person, and actually our role at the moment is to develop the policy, with not only focusing on football or basketball, we are focusing on all the sports, all the sports and youth by themselves, so that's why it's called National Youth and Sport Council, so we are developing now the policies that are going to support the youth in sport and the other youth activities in the country, so this is a body that is overseeing all the youth activities and sport activities, and our role is actually to support the government a device, I mean, provide policies that are going to help the government to support the youth, because what is important for the government at the moment to focus on it is to support the youth, because it's at the young generation that is going to replace the current generation, and if we don't prepare them, we are doing nothing, so the best thing for us to do is to prepare this young generation, look at the people that actually have talked about the role before, when Manute Ball came back to Sudan, he came and he was training both of the role in Egypt, and he told them, "Do you care that the one going to replace me?" "Just like a joke, but now it is a reality." If Manute could not do that, then we would have not been having any political role now, or any other person or all the other youth activities, so the work that had been done by Manute was captured by young people, and we need to live from there, we don't need, so also that is not doing very good, and we want to do better than that. It's doing very good in basketball, and we don't want also to be top one in basketball, we want, we have opportunities, we have the football, we have the athletic, we have all those kinds of things that our youth can be productive. Beside is what being honorable, beside being an activity that excites people, made us make us fit, and an activity does make us a nation proud of who we are, and what we can do at an international stage, can sport be used also as part of inter-pronero issue when we are done. Let me tell you, it's what is already a business, it is as that are not considered a business, and this is where we want to actually grow the attention of the private sector to come in, because if you look at the sport, all the sport material that are produced in the market, and people buy them, so it is a matter of thinking outside the box, you see, this is a business that needs to be utilized, look at this, Tisha the field is wearing, he bought it, he bought it, and does Tisha, somebody can open a shop there, now everybody is buying that. Like today, everybody is fighting to get Tisha, choose, we all to import, choose for the use, we are playing the sport outside, and this is a great opportunity for a business person to capture that, you have opened a very big sport complex here, and you will get all the money you want, so the sport is already a business, it is the other way, we have not put it to say that it is a business, but it is already a business indirectly, so a lot of things that have been done now, as I was telling you about Fermitt, that day, the old table we have paid for, that is already a business. In advance, all the table we have paid for, the table you have paid, later on you will buy food, you buy drinks, all that, but now you have to pay for the table first, yes, you have to pay for a table to get a seat, if we win with me, I will kill you, we have about five, we have a table of five, and that table will be there with our name, so it is fought by itself to the business. So, the last question to you, how can we transmit this information to the people in the rural areas, let's say somebody in Buma, somebody in Pivor, the high, the tall people who would get in Pivor, in Capoita, in western equatoria, in Rus and all these other places, the high that God has given us, how can we utilize it? You don't need to go to your school to play basketball, I understand, do you 100% will I kill? Now, Monod Bol was discovered by Bono Mullal in the visit, to twitch, they were doing election campaign, then he saw where it told man, he brought it to wow, he left it in wow, and he got a game to play basketball from cattle camp, to university, and became an NBA player. Now, it was Bono Mullal who put him in his car, brought him to, he just supported him for one year, and then we, his colleague, his brother, Nicola, myself, who were playing in Egypt, I brought him, choose number size 17, when I had of, so I brought, I went to Europe, when I was traveling, I brought the shoes, so my first shoes, my, my, the first shoes to be put on by Monod was size 17, in wow, and imagine, during the liberation, Monod supported me in humanitarian work, that's why he was involved. Oxford, America came to me and asked me how could they involved Monod in what they called hunger banquet in America, so I wrote a note from, in using my hand by that time, because we didn't have anything, so it was taken to him, he immediately joined them, and after that, Monod came to Nairobi, he supported me, he said, "Where is your family?" I brought my family to Nairobi, and he gave me $1,700, it was transferred to a colleague in Nairobi, and then I went to Nairobi, and it is where I started to separate, I used the money to start to celebrate, so the message, so the message, year, honourable, a chill, we have South Sudanese in the rural areas, so seven points, something feed, and all, and all this, they are high. Let me give you another, so how can we communicate this message that high is something that you can use to benefit from, you don't need to go to school. You are already doing it now, in Radium, Radium, Radium. This radio now is covering everybody in South Sudan, and through the telephone communication, the spot is coming on Facebook, and people are watching it. Let me give you one thing, something is already developing, a young girl during the school games, she was by then 13, and she was at my height, now she is taller than me by far, I mean actually, okay, when she was 17, she came to, we encouraged her father, she is from Northern, from from Rumbek, we encouraged her father to come to Yuba, and we supported the girl, during the time, people were in COVID, this young girl was having a scholarship, she finished primary and second school from when people are on break from 19 to 2022, finished primary and second school in Uganda, he was being taught online, sponsors gave her a special class, and she passed exam, and she is now in university, okay, you know what happened, early on before she comes to Yuba, she was already booked, her father was paid 300 cattle, head of cattle, okay, like what do we do, in our, when you book until when she, when she's grown up, and then she will be brought to you, now her father, the family head of this and I was almost entering into trouble, but the sponsor of paid this amount of cost, the value of 300 cattle, head of cattle was paid in front of a lawyer, this young lady now is in America, college basketball, just wait, you will see in two to three years, it's another start to come, it's another start to come, yeah, imagine from, from, from cattle come, yeah, actually there is a message that, and it was, and it was through the school games, so if we continue with school games with the minister now, doing the, and I'm hearing very good news, the national, national youth and sport council, this could be structured, and I'm happy I will, I will involve with them, this could be structured, now the patron will be the president, okay, the, the second, the, the, the convener will be the minister, and if the president is sitting, chairing, or supervising, who will, who will be left out, all the ministries of education, sports, ministry of, ministry, defense and police will have military, generals and, no, no, military, military, sports tournament, we have school, sports tournament, and, and, and the students, let me give you one thing, my son, today he's playing college basketball, he's, he's scholarship, I could not afford, he's paying over $4,000 a semester, he's in US, and, and he was trained here by Monobold Pro, Monobold Program, and then involved in foundation, in the university of Cuba, he was taken from the university of Cuba, the mouth of a vista, you have to prove your worth for a sponsor to come, people got videos, and they, they watch videos through their, their, their, their scout, they come to Africa, they are moving over, Amado profile, and, and Aldeng are already, we have the rule, soon, NBA, NBA Africa, junior, junior, NBA Africa, in monarchy, so you take your child, after school, you take your child to the playground, will be trained free, and will be trained responsibility, you will be checked, have you had done your homework, you will be asked to go home to discipline, must come clean, must be everything, so they are giving, they are managing themselves as a children, imagine, and from here, children could be taken second school sports scholarship. Now, we are seeing all these things, this could be individual, and, and, and, and, and, the, the, the, the, the purpose is, how do we take these individual achievement that we see, selected achievement that we see, the case of, of a girl, that, that, that you have to pay the, the, the, the, the, you have to pay a composition for the 300, that would, that the father lost, before a lawyer, and now she, you are not, to the person who booked the girl, when she grows, she will be given to her, it is our traditional way. So, so, yeah, you have to pay that amount of money to the, to the person before a lawyer, in order to allow this girl to go to school, and play sport, and exploit her height, and, and she's, she's, she's likely to be, and the father was convinced, if the father was not cooperative, if he was, she would have taken her back, but, yeah, yeah, the, the, the, what I'm driving at, these are selective cases, how do we generalize and bring this thing to community, community, and even close community, so that, okay, we get people from Brumbeg, go and play in Okoba, get people from poshala, go and play in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, so, and, and, and, and, and all using, how do we promote a sport at national level? Are we, are not seeing these things? Or are they, or are they, next tomorrow, on the 5th, you have the Bargazal, Counties League, the final is between, between Twitch, and, and, and, well, you're in West, in Medangeda, can you imagine? Recently, there were not, community, community tournament, and, before it, there was Twitch, Twitch, community, peace tournament in Brumbeg, and if you go to playground, and you see what is happening in Munokheya, it is wave, wave, wave of people. People travel, move on food, to go and support their teams. I'm, I, I override you, I had some youth speaking about the tournament that that was going on in a cobalt. And when you see Eastern, what I'm trying to say is that, when are we seeing, and how do we promote this activity, cross communal activities, or region activities, so that it is not bargazal, can't believe, and have a national one that brings us together, and see our talents all together in one field. - No, what is missing now? It is not, it is not how to take it, but it is documentation and a sports media. We have to train, I hope Mariah can pick this up, we need a sports generalist. That is what is missing today, that is all. - A sports generalist to cover, because there are already activities, it is only the lack of coverage. - Okay, vulnerable tongue, you can see, you want to interject again. - No, actually, what I just want to say is I will go back to some, but let me come into this issue of the sports generalist. No, actually, I can say, it's part of an area that we are very proud, we have an enough generalist, because I participate with them, I interact with them a lot of time, and you find them, traveling with the team, when the national team is traveling, a lot of these generalists are traveling with them to make sure that they cover things and provide information back home. - So you need this sports generalist. So what is missing is the support. - Sponsoring. - The financial support, because it's very offensive, it's not a simple thing. Let's say that, as you ask, just take example, that you are saying, how do we take people to cover, to play there, and take them to treat, to play, and to treat. - They have to fly. - Taking that people there is not free, you have to pay for it. And to pay for it, it's very hard for most of the time to get because of the economic situation that is going on in the country. So it's very difficult. And this is where we need to encourage both. I mean, not to encourage, is actually the role of the government, because all this is-- - And business community. - All this is part community. I mean, for the association and federation are actually, these are government entities. They are just being managed by those associations, but they belong to a country, they are for the nation. So it is a government responsibility to support all this association. And I'm happy that the government is already doing this, one accidentally to the basketball. Because if you look at the basketball, you cannot believe how many tournaments they play here in Africa before they went to-- - To welcome. - To welcome. - Yes. - They play so many things. And those things, you cannot achieve them if you have no money. You cannot fly people here to come around, to Tunisia. - And exactly, this is where I want to come in to tell how we suffered here. - Mm-hmm, mm-hmm. - Yeah, yeah, yeah, and then finish this point, we are coming to the challenges. - So this is an area that I mean, we just need to draw the attention of the government and the president actually have taken this one, very seriously. Each of the basketballers have taken it, very seriously, you have taken it personally. That basketball might be supported and it has to. So, and that is why now it is done. A lot of people, even fun, that we are going to, I mean, fun, that we are going to far into a favor. It is just that the embassy could not issue some people, the visas, and I also don't blame the embassy because the process, that is late. - Instantly. - And the process, that relation also, and even you touch the process late, that is where the problem is fixed. So because on the problem, on the process, that it later was not also their fault because they got the money late. So on that why they touch it like that. But this is an area for what you are saying, get to answer your point, that how do we form more inter-counties activities so that people play from that count to other county? This is something important, but it is also a neutral process. So it cannot happen. - Oh, we should finance this. - Actually, the main financial is the government, and then business. - Private sector. - Private sector, because the private sector are the self response that you asked the question before about how do we bring in the private sector? This is where now the business community can see the opportunity and support some of this, they put clubs and on them. And they can use them for their business because if you take one club and you sell the whole listing to them, you put them in a mini, you put them in your hotel and all that, everything will go to you. 'Cause like when the national team is here, they are put in their hotel and when they are in the camp, they are talking about their food in a very nice hotel. And that nice hotel is being faithful. He's not free, and this is where the business community need to take the opportunity, own them, and do business out of that. And so this is an important area. People also, the other international organization that are here and it's also done, should also put some money on his part. Because this is an area, I have seen that it has been over by the internal community. Because the internal community, they speak on humanitarian only, and peace building, but they ignore this area of the use where it is very important. So they have also, when they are making their budget, they have to consider that use are very important people in the society that they need to consider, so that whatever the money they can put in there, they can go to this kind of activity. I know they will not take everything because you don't take, you don't make a country to be run by international organization. The international organization will come in to support where there is a gap. If there is a gap, let's say that there is a community there who have nobody supporting them, that is where they will come and take part of that. But the government should be leading the national team at a responsibility of the government. The state team at a responsibility of the state government, so like that. So, as a digital share of the sports council, that is under the Ministry of Youth and Sports, why is, I know this question should have been answered by General Madot, whom we think will join us in the second hour, but you are here now, you can as well as a member of a sports council. Why is football not doing very well, despite its wide coverage. Football is played even in villages, in boomers. We see football tournament played at the regional level, played at the state level, played at national level. We have at Alabara, we have FC, what, wow, and all these things. These are clubs, and we should have a strong national football team, and we have it. Why is it not performing very well? - Okay. Okay, no, that is a good question, actually, as you are saying, that question should have been answered by General Lagusino, and you will ask him when he come later, but I will just tell you why it is not performing well like basketball. You know, this thing I told you already, we have an opportunity. There is no question about the players, we have the players. All we need to do is that we give them a training, train the coaches, and have the coaches that are available to train them, which are there. But what we are lacking is the support that we have been talking about, the financial support that we are talking about, because it's what can run if you don't have resources. So it makes it so difficult for you to implement all the programs that we have planned for. Take, for example, a basketball. Basketball does not wait for the money from the government to come and pay it, because the government, many come later on after two months or three months, but roll pay for it to make sure that they don't miss all those games that they want to do. Roll pay for those things in his own pocket. And if we did not have roll in place, then basketball would have not been the way we are talking about it now, because a role, apart from being a basketball player, professional basketball player, is already to do this also by dancing these activities in his own pocket. That's why basketball, I mean, I had to be able to roll this spot. So it is not yet ahead because roll is a player, but it is all these also putting ourselves there. - But one over time, we are seeing effort whereby our basketball, I mean football team go all around, playing all these original tournament, but they fail. - May I come in? - Yeah, yeah, yeah. Okay, actually Honorable Tong has answered it correctly. Now, what is missing are three things, which you cannot create it out of blue. One thing, you need to have several leagues and several level, which you have start with super league. So the sport has been privatized. Then you have super league, then you have division one, division two, division three. So the population of players has already got established. Now, what is missing is infrastructure. For people to move here to go to board, it's very easy now. For move here to go to, what is this place, not a river. To go to Turkey, but you cannot go to here and you cannot go to normally, easily, to go and play. People have to fly and go to Okoba is out of questions and this is what we need, so infrastructure is very important. Now, the other thing is the league because you need players with experience coming out from a long time league, they have to have also exposure and they have to have endurance. So we have talented players, but we don't have excellent players. You need to move the player from being talented to excellent. Excellency comes through exposure. So this thing will come. So it could only happen if we privatize. So we need to privatize. It will happen in basketball, for sure. Basketball Africa League already. If you have two to three clubs here participating in basketball Africa League, you will contract players and you will go abroad and then you will benefit from sponsoring. What do you do with sponsorship? If I put a TV, a T-shirt during the game, in the state of three minutes for advertisement, a company will pay for me to put on my T-shirt for $10 or $100,000 or $1 million for me to expose. So this is what happened. You see disruption always happen in the game show. - Yeah, I wish. - That is what it's bringing in money. So this will be, and then tickets. So what do we need in South Sudan, for example, we need a Monod Bola Super Arena just like, what is it, Lee? It is possible. You don't pay it from the company. Yes, through what we call it, sovereignty grantees, through the banks, through the center bank and through the commercial banks, a business person could come and develop this center. You have seen now in the Freedom Hall, how much money they make weekly? Only that. So yes, if we have arenas, this is the thing. So it is possible. We have to do those things to go to the next level. The population of players, the tournaments are there, need coverage, and we go ahead from there. - Yeah, honorable term? - Yes. - Yeah, you finish your point, you say. Yeah, so what I was saying is that, they know for basketball or football, to reach to visit them that we need to put all the airport, because, you know, everything that you do is money. Let's say that you are taking a team here to Egypt. You need coaches to go with them. You need the player themselves to go, because they are the main people who are going there. And all these people, they also have their own families that they take care of. So sometimes it becomes so difficult for a coach to travel to Egypt when he has nothing to live to the family. And this is something that we don't see. We always see that they put our team as fail. But what make it fail? We don't go to those small details. Those small details are very important for us, for us to be successful. And that thing is also that players, that we are playing, we need to make them happy. Need to make them happy to feel that the national identity that you are talking about is actually taken as a national player. So that also need to be taken care of. So that the family is not crying when they are playing in Egypt. So this is something that is important, that we need to make sure that we put in our resources to the spot, because they use that we are talking about. The Ministry of Youth is the only underfunded ministry. It's very low funded ministry. When in fact, we have the highest population of the youth in the country. And this should be the highest funded ministry. Because these youth are not for that ministry. They are our children. They are our sons, they are our daughters. And we need to make sure that this is the ministry that we have to prioritize in all the government activities to make sure that our youth are moved to the next level. Yeah, so this is very important. And something that we need, I mean, people to take, I mean, the government as we are working now at the moment in the visit, it doesn't need to be taken care of. So that-- So precisely, you are saying if the mainstream youth and spots is well-funded, in your words, if it is underfunded now, and if it is well-funded, then it could be a way to mitigate conflict also. Because youth will be engaged in the spot. Youth will be engaged in entrepreneurship. Youth will be engaged in many activities that are productive to themselves and even to the country. So the whole thing is about resources. So how do we get resources beside government funding? I know we are struggling economically, but the private sector is well-privatized spots. But what is it? Why is it not privatized? Is it limited by law? No, the law is allowing Article 40 of the Constitution is allowing, and you have the sauce-to-down companies act this allowing. It is only innovation. And then also, we have a lot of bad news about sauce-to-down. So people are fighting over J1 in the state of creating their opportunities. And because of this head speech and the way we portray sauce-to-down, but we have to do business. It is possible. So the ministry has to be effectively funded. And then another thing, actually, the University of Dubai should have a school of sports science. So we start training, sports masters, sports trainers, and coaches, and media, and all other aspects. So sports cannot only come from financing from the government, but enable the ministry to create the necessary, conducive atmosphere so that sports is privatized. There's no way we can come out from it that it is privatized. You have-- 100%-- you have played basketball, and you have been involved in spot activities in your youthhood. What can current youth learn from your youthhood? Yes, back. OK. Now, a lot of things happen to me by chance. So the first person to show me, Assemblyman, the first ABC of basketball was a lead Tippo College win. And then winder was due in Malachal. And then we have one of our-- then there were being called local coaches. He's in Dubai here. Sorry to forget my teacher in sports. These people, they helped me by chance, because in Mederia, in Malachal, there was a small playground. So we used to go and see there, then somebody asked me to play, and I started to play on a light. Now, during the holidays, I was going from home from Malachal to home. So I passed through WOW. And my brother, Tom Young, led Tom Young, were playing. They were in the camp representing Baragazale. So I went to play with them. Then a couple would saw me, and he said, what is this? Where are you going? Why did Malachal not take you? And I said, we have better players in Malachal. And I just started last year. I'll tell you that you don't enter into camping. So when I enter, he said that you will not play for Baragazale, for sure, because the law says you are supposed to represent Malachal, but play with others. So I entered into the camp. My brother was to fly to go and check, and he found me training. He was happy. And my coach went to him and told him, leave the boy in the camp, please. And then later on, we'll facilitate him to go back. Now, a special game was played, a friendly game, after the tournament in 1975, finished. When I played in the tournament, I was selected immediately to the national team in Khattou. In 1976, '77, they were looking for me. '77, I went to Khattoum, and I went to Bedramana. And I played for nine club in Sudan. And then I went to Egypt for my treatment. I got injured. But later on, my scholarship came. And I was admitted to Alexandria University. So during my treatment in Cairo, I played for Magauldung in a lot of-- so they told me, stop going for treatment. I will treat you, but help us win Division II to superlick in Egypt. So I did it. And we won. And we were left with three games before even we won. So I was taken from the last game that evening to hospital to be operated on. Three months, four months later, my admission to scholarship came. They wanted to actually give me sports scholarship in Cairo University. But when my official scholarship came in Alexandria, I left for Alexandria. Then I found number four club in Egypt, which was early at the secondary. Because the leading club was likely because it was having saw Sudanese Nicole and Noel. It was born. And then had the three of the stumbullia. So the second was Zamaalik. The third was Al Jazeera. Then number four was Tihat. And he was having the best basketball player in Africa. Meet Edward. So we joined with Meet Edward from 1978 until I graduated. We are champion of Egypt. So I was given scholarship to Ontario. I refused because I didn't understand why I should. I live in school and then go for basketball. So learning from your experience, learning from my experience is that if you spend some minutes in the field and you really give it time, you have seen Malawi from Uganda. The refugee in Uganda is now a representative of Sudan at 817. So in South Sudan, in South Sudan, I was selected to Sudan basketball national team at 817 also. I didn't play for the national team because I was more engaged in school. So it's spending more time planning to how to go and read, how to go and steal is more wasteful and cannot internationalize you. No. You spread this question. My chance. Yeah. What can youth learn from champion? I know you are in a sport, but I haven't seen you in a sport. I mean playing. But I guess you have to connect with me now. You have to connect with me now. How can current youth that are engaged in negative activities in the villages learn from our youth that have done very well? An example of Malawi just a mere refugees in Uganda doing very well, playing with LeBron and others who are known to be champion all over the world. What can we learn from this? You know, you know, the thing is that in South Sudan, there is a lot of talent. I can tell you. And I will give you an example of the uncertain equation. There is a lot of talent of the youth which are not discovered outside there. And this is where we want to make sure that we attend a sport to the rural community and make sure that we identify those who are the best to bring them on board so that they can play at the national level and up to the international level. Just about your question before. I mean, the theme of the thing. How can the sport promote the national identity? Because the sport is the way the sport promote the national identity. It's very simple. When you play, you compete at the local national level, to the regional level and international level and your coconuts internationally. The champion of the national identity is automatically recognized. Like South Sudan, who knows South Sudan before? But now with basketball, everybody's talking about South Sudan. Is every focus is about South Sudan, and that is already a recognition of the national identity. I saw a veteran politician in Kenya, Rayal Odinga, putting on a T-shirt A.U. support South Sudan. And do you know why? Rayal is the candidate for the African Union presidency, to be a president of African Union. And he had to campaign in all the continent. And that is part of opportunity, was a great opportunity for him to campaign there. Rayal was sponsored with T-shirt to be produced for South Sudan. And he won himself there. And the energy that he put in, the energy that he put in, in watching the football, when you see him very keen, I think if somebody was talking one, two, three, it was not aware of what was happening around him, but he was, he was blue to the TV. No, but Rayal is a politician. You know, being a politician, you need to target where there are people. And where there were people was that spot. That is where, actually, he was not in his campaign of Obama. He didn't look at the President of Obama. He went to, he started with the NBA visit to the sport ground. He associated himself with players. He has the first round in his position. In summary, we are going for a break. In summary... Yeah, let's come back to that. Is he what I was saying? I will give you an example of the talent. You know, in 2008, I went to Koyok. We were doing humanitarian work in the area. And while we were going around, I went to Koyok's country, Koyok's country. And I met then, then you were there. Then you were the young, 17 years. Yes, I remember the life. And this is what you were talking about before. That is getting a basketball. Some basketball don't need to go to school. There are things that you consider. One is the age. Because if you are not within the age to play, you cannot be considered there. That is number one. Number two is that basketball consider... Hide. No, it's for training and leadership. Because if you look at the basketball players, they are leaders. They are not just people like you are now. If you have no leadership ability, you cannot manage this. So they consider the train you on basketball and the train you to be a leader. So then I went and took the picture of them. And I came to Japan and I shared with everybody. Now, then I played in Spain. In Spain? In Spain, in Spain. And no one brought them here. And they got the scholarship here. One year in Kenya, the second year. You went to Spain. OK, I think we need to pick it up after a break. And we shall just pick it up from there, Honorable Tong. And tell us more about Demoyod. And tell us. And tell South Sudan is that you don't need to go to school in order to play a sport and be champion internationally. No, no. What you need is the talent and the training. I want to correct you. Nowadays, our sports is connected to the school. So a child who is coming to practice in the morning, will ask them, "Have you done homework?" And they have to show us, Karasad. OK, let's pick it up from there. You are listening to "Ride Me Roundtable" with me, Yaj Karang. And we have, in the studio, Honorable Tong Deng Anay and Honorable Achil Malik and other two guys expected to join us any time soon. Stay tuned for the next session of this discussion. [MUSIC PLAYING] "The Roundtable" is the roundtable for "Ride Me Roundtable." "The Roundtable" is the roundtable for "Ride Me Roundtable." [MUSIC PLAYING] "The Roundtable." [MUSIC PLAYING] "101FM Radio Miraya" powered by the people, uniting the nation, your preferred station, "The Voice of Peace." [MUSIC PLAYING] "The Roundtable" informative, fresh, and direct. What do the people of South Sudan want? They want just any government or they want a government that they feel will represent the kinds of things they need that will bring a sustainable peace. Here from the experts, policymakers, and major stakeholders about trending national issues around you, on "The Roundtable" ideas are served fast. This is one, "Allow Me, Allow Me, Allow Me." Join the experts as they discuss national issues and how they affect you. You don't want to go back to war. We don't want to go back to war. "The Roundtable" every Saturday from 8 to 10 in the morning with a repeat on Sundays from 6 to 8 p.m. "The Roundtable." "The Roundtable." Looking for the perfect way to unwind you, Sunday? [MUSIC PLAYING] Join us on "The Radio Miraya" Sunday Cruise, your weekly calming experience of easy listening music and good vibes. Every Sunday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Well, we help you relax and prepare for the week ahead. So lay back and relax on the clues. Only on "Radio Miraya." [MUSIC PLAYING] Hey, Cis, now it is you look smart. What are you up to? There is a UN guy I spotted, and I want to catch his attention. He's so handsome, and I think he will transform my life if I did him, because I'll be able to afford anything I need. Oh, no, my sister. You must be careful. I should be careful about what? Are you jealous? Oh, no, I'm not jealous. But the truth is that any humanitarian worker should not have sex with us members of the local population in exchange for money, goods, employment, or services. This is because we are their beneficiaries. Most of the UN and humanitarian workers are here temporarily, so the guy you are I might not be here for long. I think you have a point. Thanks for the eye opener. From now on, I'll be careful of who I intend to date. This message is brought to you by the United Nations mission in South Sudan. Report sexual exploitation and abuse by calling the toll-free number 091210012 or email amiss-city@un.org. [MUSIC PLAYING] [MUSIC PLAYING] [MUSIC PLAYING] [MUSIC PLAYING] [MUSIC PLAYING] [MUSIC PLAYING] [MUSIC PLAYING] [MUSIC PLAYING] [MUSIC PLAYING] [MUSIC PLAYING] [MUSIC PLAYING] [MUSIC PLAYING] [MUSIC PLAYING] [MUSIC PLAYING] [MUSIC PLAYING] [MUSIC PLAYING] (upbeat music) ♪ And I want another rice kissin' ♪ ♪ And I want another rice kissin' ♪ ♪ And I want another rice kissin' ♪ ♪ And I want another rice kissin' ♪ ♪ But I'll be there ♪ ♪ And go as carefully ♪ ♪ You don't wanna go away ♪ ♪ But I won't place your time in that ♪ ♪ Maybe ♪ ♪ I won't trust alone ♪ ♪ But I won't let you go ♪ ♪ And I won't waste your time ♪ (upbeat music) ♪ And I want another rice kissin' ♪ (upbeat music) (upbeat music) (upbeat music) ♪ You give me light ♪ ♪ Oh gravity you fly ♪ ♪ For your baby I will stop the hands of time ♪ ♪ Relaxed through ♪ ♪ You give me time ♪ ♪ And then we'll go to the corner ♪ ♪ And let you know goodbye ♪ (upbeat music) ♪ And go as carefully ♪ ♪ And you don't wanna go away ♪ ♪ But I won't place your time in that ♪ (upbeat music) (upbeat music) (upbeat music) (upbeat music) (upbeat music) (upbeat music) (upbeat music) (upbeat music) - The round table. - From across the country and beyond, you are listening to Red and Red and Red and Red and Red. With me, I'm Grang, and we are discussing the role of a spot in promoting national identity and unity. And in this studio, with us to discuss the topic, is "100able accumulate" from S.G. of South Sudan, "put bowl for dreshen" and "basket bowl for dreshen." Thank you for this. And then we have "100able Tung Dang Anae" from a minister of a spot in northern Pakistan and an independent researcher currently. Then we are joined. We are joined. We are lucky to be joined in the second session by most awaited guests. That is Honorable General Madot. Welcome to the studio. Honorable Madot, we have been waiting for you. And welcome to the studio. You are listening to Red and Red and Red and Red. Honorable, our guests, you will be able to call us on 090296862-970912062950. We are in the studio with Honorable Madot. Always the president of South Sudan, "put bowl" association. Welcome to the studio general. Thank you. Thank you very much, sorry, for delaying. Yeah, and nevertheless, you are not too late. We are discussing the role of a spot in promoting national identity. And I want to say sorry for surprising you with this, with a question when you are settling. As somebody who has been involved in a war of liberation, and you are a leader in this country before taking over the role of a spot in South Sudan as the president of a "put bowl" association. And you have seen how much is an entity, important entity of this society, is fraction. And that is youth. You have seen youth being used by elders and even by -- go and look at the reading. Youth being used by politicians to fight the war. Youth are engaged in criminal activities across the country. And they are the future of this country. So how can we use a spot to promote unity among the youth? And promote a collective identity in South Sudan. You have seen these days, everybody would want to identify with South Sudan. And all Africa is watching South Sudan. And even outside Africa, people are surprised when in this. So this pride that we are seeing being brought, that's just by five people in the field. Only comes enough of it if we may then. How about 70% of this population, 7 million? What can we do in order to bring this unity? And an identity that we can be proud of. General Madewat. Thank you, Madewat. Also, I want to greet the listeners of the Madewat. Taking care of this important program. In fact, of course, we talk of a sport in general. And when we come in particular, football is a popular sport in the whole world. Of course, the sport promote the national unity and national identity. No doubt about it. And we can see from, well recently, the basketball has done to our country, playing with the United States in the preliminary in London. And you can see all the people, our people in London, all over the world and in Africa, there will cherish our team. And then they dedicate that there is a power of sports to bring people together. And of course, given to when we are talking of the national building, it's very crucial because you know we identify ourselves as one person. It created a platform for youth to be engaged, for youth also to discover their talent. And for community development, for economic development, for promotion of values, for play and tolerance and you know respect of your opponent. These are things that are crucial for these sports. And we think sport can do more than anything because you use the idol. They go to negative issues including sometimes destructive. Of course, youth are the power of the nation because given them their energy and when we come to our backgrounds when we went to the war of liberation, we are very young and this made us have that energy and that talent. And to be oriented to fight the war of liberation for 21 years. So important of youth and important of common agenda, youth can actually contribute effectively to unity of country, to let youth realize their importance and their talent. And football these days become also for diplomacy. And traditionally you can use football like what we have. And build, build, build bilateral relations that involve sports, cultures and all this. So this is how I see it is very crucial that the sports in general can unite the youth. And this is what we are doing now in football. We are trying to popularize it for the grassroots level, the national level. So far we have 12 national teams starting from senior national team, both men and women to come to the grassroots is in fact to give energy to the youth and to the competition and to promote the challenge to work further in order to build a very strong national team in the future. This, and we can see we have our study, our study is going to host four teams. Lehelal, Lehelal, Sudan and Mareja Sudan. We have Mareja Ben-Tiu, who is our champion here. We have Yamuz of Juba. They are going to play here. And he is going to bring so many clubs outside from Tunisia, from Libya, from Kenya. Then they are going to play here. And one we are talking, they will invest because they will use hotels, they will use other aspects of going to market to check others. At the same time, those who do not know South Sudan will be aware of what is South Sudan, which is another aspect is diplomacy, sports, economics, this mix. And then we are going to play here also, and Sudan is going to play with Nigeria here. And we are going to play with South Africa here, in Africa, in Africa, in Africa, in a couple of nations. And then the use will be much engaged, there will be a fund, there will be a lot of activities in the city. And I think it gives a national credit that we are now peaceful, we are walking toward peace. Of course, in any new nations, we have an experience of all the nations of the world. There are some time cracks and all this, people learn from it and use other means and other platforms to let people come together, especially youth. Honorable, I am in general Madhut. For a spot to flourish, to succeed and be popular, as you said, it needs an agenda setting. An agenda setting needs leaders who set agenda. We have seen at the grassroots level, majority of youth, despite 12 national team that you talk about, still majority of youth are not engaged in sport and are engaged in negativity activities. What can the country do, what agenda can the country set, so that these youth that are in villages, that are having arms with them, killing themselves, engaging in negativity activities, can be more productive. Well, it is a collective responsibility to invest, we need to invest more in sports. The sports also don't have got a lot of challenges in terms of infrastructure of sports, especially all the sports infrastructure is very weak, and sometimes completely not there. This is one of the crucial aspects. If that's why I say it's collective responsibility, from those who are in sports as well, our government need to invest in sports, because this world will attract. At the same time, the financial aspect of it, because the sport is also, you need to invest in it so that you have a fruit in the future, because if you don't invest, it will still not bring good proper results. When we see a basketball, because there's our children that left and went to colleges and to better environment, to enable them to actually come up with the same situation of the United States and even in Australia, we have so many plays in Europe and all this. This is easier for us, and this indicates that the environment of having infrastructure means financing can create a talent, and they should bring something. For us to do this is a national agenda towards sports, and then we are taking our strategy, that's why we talk about grassroots football. We sometimes promote community, amateur football, and you can see now we have nice football, we have DCL. We allow them in order to, you know, more interaction, and our people, when you say your home is playing without the feel that you want to go and support, we make them, and there are a lot of that direction indicate that especially in football, it's more very popular, and you can see when we play with Sudan, the stadium was so full. And you will see also when this match is coming, it attracts them to this, and we are thinking now we play at all level of rompi arms, you get football is there, because it's not like basket, basket you need to have, you need to have a chord that is well built, but for us we just play on the ground, from playing level to, we have so many support sessions, our home, our county level. And this is how, if you are monitoring, you can see, there has come up on football recently, last, before three months I was in Kaka-Tigari, I was in Waricona, I was in Kodok, and all this visit is actually to bring these people, the world's own, and now we are bringing them to the other one, you see football is very popular, and bringing youth together. Yeah, I am in general Madhuta, I don't know why am I always referring to a horrible one, but it's just you can be a horrible other politician too. In general, we have seen sectionalised or regionalised football tournaments that are ongoing, and in itself talking about national identity, national unity here specifically would want us to move away from the region, and sections football, how do we at the national level, under football federation, and federation, yes. How are you trying to make sure that there is a cross or inter, or let me say a national tournament that brings people together, take for example, you can know people from Gogreal, take them to Mauut, and go and play there, and people learn from each other and all this things, and then take people from Mauut, take them to Kapoita and all these things. Is it part of your agenda? This part of our agenda, the only difficulties refer to what I have said before. It was an issue to do with resources, and then you know it can provide us with the necessary transport to transport our teams. All we can do is we have a plan of interstates, that we need to bring our interstates, and at the same time we have a plan of Premier League, and this plan is to play home and away. Only we can see also infrastructure problems, because we cannot move from here to Malakal, if team is to move, unless you use a plan which is very expensive. And that's why I say, if you are with us, because there are also concerned about building peace, and football, can build also peace. And this, what we think, of course, getting to regional, this is just for the same organization, it's like you have a state, a state is a part of the nation, but you cannot manage it. It's a building block, there is a structure of anything, even we in FIFA. We have kafu, it's a regional, it's a continental part of it. We have UEFA and all these, these are, for you to mandate you have to have such, and then in kafu we have, our zone is called Sikafu. I wish I'm the Vice President, we are in Sikafu region, because those who are near to each other would be easy for them to compete among themselves, because they have cultural similarities, they have connection and links and all this, and that's why there are levels that were by regional compete. There are levels where we compete at national level, so we have all this, even though you compete at your regional, you can come to national teams. And also we organize it there, because sometimes there is no means for you to, to make, to transfer them to other places. Otherwise we have all this plan, however the difficulties is to go back to resources and infrastructure, social roads, and at the same time the infrastructure I say is crucial, because now we have rains in Malacca in the area of Appanite, then there is no football. People stop, they wait for one to become dry seasons. Dry season and the season itself is very short, and this one doesn't help, because the more you play, the more you become a skill pool, the more you have less games, the more you cannot compete, you cannot compete with those who play throughout the seasons. Okay, thank you very much. Let's see if we can all write them down. Hello? Hello? You can call us again on 0 9 29 6 8 6 2 9 7 or 0 9 1 2 0 6 2 9 5 0 and in this video we have guests to answer to your question. Hello, Redumbria? Hello? Hello? I think, hello, Redumbria? Hello? Hello? Hello? All right, I think there is a problem with the lines. I think our technician will work on it. But I have questions here from Facebook. We have one from Bona Bowl, Akok Mabek. We need a strong president who has experienced any skill to play to president of football, game to promote the sport, program and all these things. This was just a comment. We have James Wright, my dog from Juneteenth State, a sport enhancing of peace among communities by themselves. This is something that can bring peace and harmony among communities a comment. We have James, John Wilson Woll from Gogreal. His county basketball team is doing it best under the role. But this question, I think, to General Meduert. But General Meduert, what is wrong with our football team? Are you not competent to run or there is a corruption? There's one question, another question from the same person, John Wilson. What are you not bringing back our footballers? Why are you not bringing back our football players who are playing in Europe, Australia, and USA as Lowell is doing? That's to General Meduert, Poio Costa. Roundtable is the solution to promotion of peace among the youth, and it brings development as well as equality. Let us see if there is a problem with the line. Keep on trying, and our technicians are working on this. Let me give General Meduert some more questions. Daniel Meduert is Daniel Meduert from a high referendum year in Japan. I'm supporting basketball more than football because I'm seeing future in basketball players and the leadership of Lowell. My appeal to General Meduert, please, you need to put more effort on your work. Football South Sudan is not going anywhere. I don't know why. I think that question, and the question seems to be going all to General Meduert, regarding an efficient football in South Sudan. General Meduert, over to you. Well, thank you. Also, thanks, those who have raised our concern through social media. It's good to listen, so always I also see some common concern. First of all, comparing football with basketball, I think, sometimes is a mistake because these activities, they have their own. We have five in the play here, and we have 11. For the football team to be the problem of our national teams, come as follow one. In 2022, you remember we qualified for the first time for our two teams. We go to our front cover nation under 2017, and even we reach to water finals. We need to appreciate that. There is more progress. Secondly, when we talk of football, I talk merely of infrastructure problems. In this, we were not having a stadium for this 12 or 13 million population, and the youth are 70 percent. We don't have one stadium, we just raised an open day stadium. The issue of to do with infrastructure, the artificial tough and the national tough, need to be provided so that children play and improve the field. This is important. Secondly, I gave you an example, now they are not playing football, they are waiting for dry season. Dry season will take you four months, and then they stop again. So what do you expect from psych skills? The other thing, football is very required a lot of resources for you, because you have to cut up some of your resources. What are the resources provided? If you include a national team, what are the resources provided? The other aspect, like now our national team, these are all our sons and daughters who are outside the country. And the majority of football, these are people who are here in South Sudan. For you to bring, you know the talent of football is so easy. In basketball, we have a lot of them. Even if you take these 12 out, you can still bring 12 out competitive with the college. Tell me, who is among our, who is playing in the Premier League of Premier League and in the UK? Who is playing? Those who are playing are three. There was a Wehrmabille and Thomas Dayne and Paul. These people, the country is always the talent of football when discovered. The country that is in, will not allow, because also we don't have resources. Because even our players here, they still play as a bluntist. So it's no greener pasture here? Yeah, there's no one. Also the, for example, the government approved 2.5 billion for the national teams. Do we have now? We have not received even one dollar. For how do you build a national team that is, is not motivated? You cannot even get to transport them at good times and time to let them camp. To all this, these are things that we are struggling with. We understand the economic, our country, national teams are teams of the government. The government is vulnerable. We will provide a technical aspect of it. So each of the resources for us to build a, a robust national team of football, we need people support. We need a private sector to, to get into support. We need government to support. And that, that is, yes, we don't see, the government is willing. But sometimes difficulties, we know our economic constraints. But sometimes, prevent that. All in all we are working on, that's why we have craft national teams. We have seen the national team, we had under 20 and 18 and 17 and 15 for men. And we have, this category is also for women. The financial team for you to go and play outside. All is, is not ideal in terms of resources. We, we, we don't have one national team, we have so many national teams. Yes, we use to scour, even if we scour some from Australia, from middle world. Do we have resources to bring them anytime? Yes, we usually have our, those who we scour in Australia and in America, as well as the player level, low level. We use to play them, they are part of the one national team and so far. They have been doing a great job. Yes, they have no reach to that extent. Some time we play, we win, some time we lose. That is a, that is a nature of the game. But people were results, you don't see what is behind it. People are saying there is, they won a leadership in football. For example, what did leadership require? Me, myself, I, general, I was not born general. It is something you have to acquire. Me, I play football when I was young, I play basketball, I play handball, I play my life, I play volleyball. My life is around sports. And what is required for me, because I am not going to play in the pitch. Me is a management, to prepare a team, scour the team. It's, it's, it's, it's mandate that way. And then players go and play. You bring it so far, I brought, so far you need to bring my workers to bring a good coach. We brought a coach from, from, from Italy. We brought a coach from, from, from, from France. Now it's, it's, it's our senior leadership coach. This one need to provide it, because it is how to build a team. The other thing, you need to have a Premier League. And a Premier League is something that require a lot of resources. And now we are engaged with MTN, so that if we have a Premier League, you will have more games. And if you have more games, then you can raise the level of competition. This is how you, you, you do it. And then we have to continue scouting. So issue to do with that general, not money. If you go and see who started their sports, this, this was the army. Because it doesn't prevent the army not to, to, to, to play. Because the army, these were, because the activities of the army itself, this it means sporting. And therefore being a general doesn't mean, doesn't mean that you cannot manage football. The management is different from playing on the, on the pitch. My role is to provide music conducive atmosphere, engage with the government, engage with the other sector. In order for the team to get play. That is my role. And then the role of the coach is to provide a technical, how information and how the team can play. And then the role of the players is to, to play and win the game. This, this, how things are divided. So issue to do with the many, I want to challenge that person to test. I was, I was director of migration. I organized it. I managed so many things. Even soldiers during the fight, it's not the easy management. It's a very strong, somewhat a volunteer with the guns and you're going to fight. And you have a munitions, how to manage and all this. I challenge anybody who say that I cannot manage football because it's, it's more of, but in any way, it's not anybody who, Maradona could have been the most important player to manage their team and take them to, to take the trophy. But he didn't, but he didn't. So issue to, to be a player and to manage have completely something different. Okay. Thank you very much. Yeah. For someone who say that is because of corrupt, you know, this is a language of today's society. This other thing is corrupt. What resources do we have there to be corrupted even? This I challenge, let him tell us what are the resources that are there to be corrupt. I see always people say corrupt. First of all, you need as, if somebody is a youth, as intellectual, you need to base your argument on logics. What do we have to be corrupted? In football association. In football association. That is the most important. First of all, for you to level an accusation of corrupt. I have, I have records of, I was in a migration, this is where there is money. And you have not had that, there is no corruption in, in migration. Leave alone, I was the president of Central Equatorial Basketball Association. I, I manage football. I was having a club, I formed my club called Citizens. And I have a club, Citizens in Sierra, I was having a club in, in Koyuga, I was having a club in Turin. So, all this time I had been managing football. So, it's not a surprise for somebody who doesn't know that. It's, it's, it's a surprise for him. But for me, I, I had been into the area of even when I was not in, in, in football. I have my own club and then transmission here in Dubai. And other things, even in the army, they have a complete department for response. You see something that you cannot say, the army, if you are a doctor, then you need to treat people alone. If you are a lawyer, then you need to be in the court. This is a passion. That is different between your own education and specialization. You can be anything, you can be a doctor, you can be an engineer and you fly football. And you want to make football. These are things that you... Okay. Thank you very much, General Marduot. Let me... Hello, Redimrai. Hello. Hello, Redimrai. Our line is failing us. 100 volts, a tonne and a chill. What can we learn from basketball that we need to migrate it to football and other spots? One, two, what other spotting activities that we have, that we can champion as a country. Because we don't need to be all... talk about football and basketball and that's it and that's it. We have other spotting activities that we have also that we can advance as a country and we can never go to Olympic. We suggest spotting. To begin with a vulnerable country. This is a good question. And we have already a champion from Eastern Victoria. This young lady who is doing wonders and I don't know what she's going to do now in the Paris Olympics and his athletes. Early on we had... During our time we had Peter, Peter from Eastern Victoria who was playing at the national level. So it is possible. We have chances of handball, we have chances of volleyball. Rini Raul who is now in the U.S. Islamic, Dao Islamic. In Sudan I think in Sudan I don't know where he is now. He was playing for Ali and they were champion all through. He was a legend in Egypt. In Malakal we were having no require. We used to call him RBG because he was knocking balls to break them. And so they formed a ship in a national... Parliament. Raul was playing Sudan from Malakal Street. We had champions. I remember one time a team was taken from a basketball and won the RBG basketball. So yes, a lot of talents, athletics, we need to encourage school games. And then we have also the Armed Forces tournament and other tournaments plus the clubs and the communities. You mentioned something before we come in and then General Augustino answered correctly. It has to go to level even in the school. You divide school into families. So from primary one up to primary there would be yellow families, green families. You do that tournament within the school and then school to school. And then from county to county. Those are very important activities. So what we need is actually it's already happening. It's already an infrastructure, an institution called National Youth Concert. National Youth and Sport Concert. It is National Youth and Sport Concert that has to come up with how to regulate and promote and give chance. For the sport, sporting activity is the best discipline to become business. So the private sector could enter in media, could enter in because advertisement in the sports is a lot of money. Thank you. Thank you very much. We saw a number of South Sudanese dominating basketball. We saw a number of South Sudanese students were getting scholarship and to go and study secondary school and even universities for free just because they were doing very well in volleyball. So what I'm trying to say is why is volleyball not doing well? Okay, it's the same challenges of infrastructure and the challenges of this tournament being made excellent. So the infrastructure is very important. The easiest thing is that football and volleyball, you just put a net up, you don't need a slap or a hard ground to play. In Egypt I saw basketball being promoted on the floor without a slap. So yes, we have a huge opportunity. We just mindset, we have to do it. The resources will come, mindset and will put the necessary infrastructure there. Okay, I'm done. Yeah, thank you. Now the question that you are asking about how can we promote sport beyond basketball so that we can also put more other sports. Actually, those things are ongoing as you know, General Madot has already talked about the football. But let me also bring you on other sports. You know, you talk about that you went to school in Kenya. We still have so many young people who are going to school in Kenya. And those young people actually get a lot of talent in the school where they are playing. And we also have what we call "E-Spot", that is the electronic spot. So all those kinds of games that are playing online, like play station, input board, all those things. Now they have established an association, international federation, get like FIVA, which is now dealing with all the type of E-Spot. And that will tell you, we have young people who have been playing in Kenya. And they are being very well, they even go to play outside with the FIVA. And they get number one, but they are not being recognized because they don't play for even inches. Yeah, they don't play for their country. They play for other countries. And that why they don't get that recognition. As you have that answer, I killed the question you were saying that you used to see some young people in Kenya who are playing. But those people, they play there, but they don't get the recognition that they will get in their own home. And we are bringing them back home again. Like this one in August, by 20th August, I am going to go to Morocco with two of them. There is a loin-tat, and Makur Makur. These are excellent E-Spot players. They are based in Irobi. And I went and I discovered them, but the last time I was there in Irobi, last month I met with them, they are very good. They are very excellent. We tested them with international federation. They fast. And now they are going to Morocco to represent South Sudan. To represent South Sudan in the international E-Spot tournament. And this is something that is very good. So we are actually already identifying the spot in all different form of a spot, and make sure that the talent of our youth does not go unrecognized. Talking about other spots, we have this data spot that is commonly played between central local area, eastern lake and the jungle state. And there is wrestling. Is it something that we can promote as a nationalist spot and even take it? Because wrestling is there. But the type of wrestling that we have is quite different from wrestling that I watched on TV. Is it something that we can tap into and maybe bring up the name of South Sudan in the inside type of spot? Yeah, actually this is a very good question that should have been answered by National Olympic Committee if the members were here. We invited one, but it was unable to join us on a discussion for the reason that I may not know. So that is actually General Samir would have answered that. But I just let me tell you my engagement with them. You know, I have been talking about the International Olympic Committee. I have been talking about Dr. Tong, which is the Secretary General and engineer Jim I step in on the need to recognize what you call it. They are wrestling. The wrestling is a very good spot and a lot of youth are engaging that very, very well. And this is something, you know, you can identify something from a small place. It becomes so big, just like I feel was talking about Manur-Bolt. One of them also even the ability brought him to wow, and Manur-Bolt become an international star. So, and this is what we need to do. We need to make sure that this international, I mean, this wrestling has to be recognized by the International Olympic Committee. Before it go to the International Olympic Committee, it has to be recognized here by our National Olympic Committee, the NOC, so that they are going. And I talked to Tom and Tom told me already that we are going to bring them on board and they will go to Olympic as an observer. Because in the other day the other day they will go as an observer and from there they will move on from there. So it is something that is being done already. So, if you are working on it and thank you for bringing it up. Also, I know guns are widely available in the hands of youth and youth of course to harm ourselves, but it is a type of spotting that you can tap into very well. But in cadets and in other military trainings, best shooter was always awarded with an award. Is it something that we can also look at? Because now with all these crimes we have developed talents also, best shooters. People who cannot miss shooting, so instead of shooting a fellow human being can also be used as a spot and encourage others also to engage in it. Is it something you can consider with your military background, you and actually? Well, of course, this is very important now internationally, very important sporting and we have a talent in this issue of its knife. And in fact it is because we are a young country, we are moving to establish a little bit, a bit, a bit. Because there are no resources, they are very difficult to, and I think it goes back to the National Olympic Committee, to the Council of Youth and Sports, to achieve the aspect of it. They believe in themselves because you need to have a benchmark to see how you can benchmark and try to do it. And it is, mostly it is a role of the National Olympic Committee to, surely, if they were to apply, they won't capacity building on this, because you need to see what are the required role, these types to be established. Again, let me get to more development, now we have like 7,000 balls that we requested from FIFA, they are available for the school competition. It is something that we are working with the Ministry of Education, so that we will have a competition for the schools. This is actually the talent start from the school level to the clubs. This is to affirm that we are working on this. We have also academies. And we have private academies that we are encouraging to go. We have a thinking of having a source done for molestation, talent, and talent academies, so that you pick, scout and pick those who are talented, so that they get to that. This is our thinking of the future, to improve on things for the future. And of course, this idea could be, lastly, the idea that we want to put this snuff as a competition can help us a lot with the people who are in the cattle camps, those civilians with the guns in their hand, wherever they are. To be a competition whereby you reduce, you know, there is incentive in it, because if there is competition, then somebody will get something from it. So instead of going to loot the cattels or go and steal the cattels that will come, because there is benefit here and there is incentives. But how to do it? This is where we need rules on the culture. Just 30 minutes for issue one of you, and talking about 30 seconds here. Thank you. Let me give 30 seconds to issue of you. Talk about South Sudan after basketball. I will be seeing ourselves. Well, of course, for me, I think we have talented. South Sudanese are more talented than in all the aspects of the sports. It's only just a time, yes. We are proud of basketball now. We are proud that we have also our small-scale athletes in the Olympic now. And we have, well, last time the other aspect football was in the Olympic in Ghana. In African state, they compete very well with Senegal and Nigeria and Uganda. So these are indication things are coming up. We have this, in volleyball, simply we can get into this state. We need more internal arraignment. Of course, all the aspects, the collective work, between the Ministry of the Sports and the Council, the National Olympic Committee. And then the federations around, we need to work together collectively. The private sector is the most important in this aspect because they have social cooperators for the ability to put in some resources. Thank you so much. One, private race, sports. We have to start with club, so that we have also the National Basketball League. To lean to basketball, basketball, Africa League. We have World Club Championship and we have IOC games and we have the World Club games. At the same time, this privatization will also go to having arena, one international arena in Juba. At least at the state level, we have national levels, arenas. And this can be done through private companies and will be connected with ecotourism. You know, our migration happens during the time when there is a holiday in Europe, that is July, August. And then also, when it is winter in Europe, we have migration from Europe to Africa. We have migration in Buma, where life is. From Ireland, Lola. So this is very good. Thank you very much. On our well done, how maybe I should repress the question. How will South Sudanese talk about themselves after Olympic tournament that is ongoing now, especially with excellent performance of our basketball team? Actually, before even the end of the Olympics, it has already created a set of unity in South Sudan. South Sudanese now wherever they are, they see themselves as South Sudanese. They don't see themselves as a dinka, nor a choli, than they oppose. No, they see themselves as South Sudanese. And that actually has been created by, what do you call it? By the basketball that is now playing in Paris. So people are actually united, that is one too. It also creates a set of ownership among the South Sudanese. They see spot now as theirs. They don't see that it is for general madot, for a chill, for welding. They see that they are owned, and they want to own it. They are already actually owning it. And this is actually what we have been pushing for. We want South Sudanese to make sure that they spot belong to them. We just provide the technical support to them with provided administration. But they thought it's theirs. Because the children are playing there as their children, the people, the government own it. So it is accurate. Thank you. We are happy now that people own it. Thank you. General Madot, your last word to our listeners in 10 seconds. Well, thank you, Madot. And the listeners, yes, let us be hopeful that, first of all, their society is keen to see to it. And there is one in future national teams. And that will require a time for us to be just supported. And I think in terms of policies, in terms of management, in terms of strategy aspect, we are a right track building what we need to see in the future. Whether when I am there, or for somebody that will come after me, I think we are putting the foundation for the development of this South Sudan football session. We are calling the private sector to invest other in clubs, other international teams. All of them are aimed to support because this was reflected and we see ourselves more in activities of the sports. Otherwise, I think we will come to Nashville here and Honorable Tongdeng for having.