Sports Minister Dr. Albino Bol Dhieu speaks to parliamentarians during the viewing of the FIBA World Cup Trophy. Monday, May 29, 2023. | Photo: Awan Moses/Eye Radio.

South Sudan’s Minister of Youth and Sports on Monday urged the transitional legislative assembly to increase the institution’s budget in the coming financial year to improve sports in the country.

Dr. Albino Bol Dhieu said insufficient funding makes it difficult for the ministry to implement some programs and sports activities.

He appealed to the lawmakers to consider topping up the ministry’s budget to empower youth in the country.

Dr. Bol said that youth will perform well in sports if they are accorded enough funding.

“Sports need money, and here is where they say there is money, I ask all the members to stand with the chairperson of the committee of youth and sports so that we can increase the budget of sports,” Bol said.

The sports minister said all the senior men and women’s national teams partaking in regional and international competitions need financial support in hard currency.

“All the national teams that have to play outside the country, need hard currency, they need money, and if the parliament does not approve the money, no one will give us.

“Two weeks ago, our national teams of handball under 17 and 20, came in third position in East Africa. They traveled by bus, 50 hours from here to Tanzania, imagine 50 hours on the road, but they manage to get a silver medal for us, imagine if they go there by plane, they will definably bring for us the trophy.”

In response, Speaker Jemma Nunu promised to address the matter.

Nunu said the parliament will do its best to support youth activities in the country.

“On behalf of the parliament, we will do whatever is possible under our competence to support the programs of sports in this country,” she said.

“For us, we don’t change the budget, so whatever ceiling they brought for you, we will definitely pass it, and if it is not enough we will cut from other ministries to add for, that is the much we can do. But we will not add from outside the ceiling of the Ministry of Finance.”

In April 2023, President Salva Kiir directed Minister Bol to prepare a budget for all sports categories, to be approved by the cabinet.

Dr. Albino Bol Dhieu said during a visit to the training camp for the U17 national football team that “the President of the Republic, His Excellency, Salva Kiir Mayardit has asked for the budget of all sports categories to be presented at the Council of Ministers for approval.”

The national football-governing body previously said lack of government support leaves the national teams struggling to represent the country in regional and continental tournaments.

Previously, SSFA also decried the burden of shouldering the booking the national teams flights.