Some shops in Kuajok market that the Kuajok Football Association rented as its office - Credit: Eye Radio/Andrew Akol - Oct. 20, 2022.

The government of Warrap has suspended the activities of the state football association following a dispute with the local clubs – that started when the football governing body appointed government officials to the association.

At least 13 football clubs alleged last week, that Majok made changes without the consent of the General Assembly.

Majok replaced his elected Deputy Chair Akol Mahol with Dut Gop, who is the Director General in the state Ministry of Trade and Investment.

Majok also fired his elected Secretary-General Longar Malual and appointed Luka Lual, the chief administrator in the office of the Governor – in his place.

Moreover, the head of the football association also removed Morino Achien, an elected finance secretary of the association and appointed Kharlo, who is the Controller of Accounts at the state Ministry of Finance.

The football teams have also accused the association of embezzling the resources meant for the football affairs. But the Acting Secretary General of the Football Association, Paulino Anei Bak denied the allegations.

Following the crisis, the Governor of Warrap State ordered for suspension of all football activities in the area.

The State Minister of Youth and Sport, Agok Ayaar, said Governor Alieu Anyieny has referred the matter to the National Football Association to intervene.

“There was a problem between football clubs and football associations, and that one has grown up to cause some tension between clubs and football associations,” Ayaar said.

“The governor has decided to suspend the activities of football association until the problem is solved by national football association in Juba, so we are waiting for their team to come and solve their problems.”

Meanwgile, Lino Mahjub, the spokesperson of the protesting clubs said they are waiting for the arrival of the president of the National Football Association.

“We are actually waiting for the arrival of our SSFA president, and while we are waiting, the Kuajok Local Footbal Association President Lino Majok went as far as appointing the director generals and government officials into the local football association as vice president.”

“All those appointees have appointed them in local football association without our knowledge because the people that we know are the people we elected and the people we voted for them.”

For his part, the Vice President of the South Sudan Football Association Charles Udar said the leadership has not been handed a report from a delegation sent to Warrap in September.

Udar says the SSFA will only respond to the matter upon receiving the report from their delegation in Kuajok.

“Yes, they have not yet presented their report, so later on when they are back they will give us the report, then we will see the way forward, so now when they present the report we will be able to decide what is the way forward .”

The teams that boycotted the activities under the leadership of Lino majok include Tiger FC, Grasco FC, Blackcock FC, Rhino FC, Junubi FC and Majak Amal FC.

Others include Kuajok United FC, Real Black FC, Black disel FC, Hilal FC, Freedom FC, Gumel United FC, and Santos FC.