National men's U-20 football team squad sit at a ceremony to honor their AFCON achievement. (Photo: SSFA).

The South Sudan Football Association has called on the national government to make a budget for national football teams and pay incentives to the players.

General Agustino Madout said the players are neither paid salaries nor incentives despite representing the country at international level.

He made the remark during the celebration of the achievements of Under-20 national football team, who returned from Egypt on Monday after being eliminated by The Gambia in the continental tournament quarter-finals.

The team was honored in an event at Buluk playground in Juba, attended by sport figures including Dr. Albino Bol Dhieu, the national Minister of Youth and Sports; Juma Stephen, the President of the National Olympic Committee, and Luol Deng, the President of the Basketball Federation.

In his remarks, Gen. Maduot likened the achievement of the U-20 team players to the SPLA liberation when soldiers fought without salaries and incentives.

However, Madout said the team deserves to be celebrated and paid for what they have achieved for the country so far.

He added that if the teams are supported, they will do better – but the lack resources is a challenge for his institution.

“Our problem that we are facing is the resources,” Madout said in a speech at the playground.

“At sometimes I say these boys are fighters, they are fighting like we fought in the SPLA time, you know in SPLA you fight without anything, nobody gives you salary, no incentive, nothing and it is the situation that we are in.”

“These boys didn’t receive any small thing for us to appreciate them, to say thank you for representing our country, this is a major problem that is facing us and needs to manage.”

On his part, the head of the delegation of all national football teams has echoed Maduot’s concern and appealed to the government to prioritize funding sports in the country.

Michael Daniel says this will enable the teams to prepare and perfume well in regional competitions.

“These boys could do more achievement and qualify for the world cup, the achievement is not difficult but it needs more attention and care, let me thanks all technical teams who helped the team…”

“…starting from the former coaches who quailed the team in Khartoum and those who achieved the quarter-final in Egypt, this is the historical achievement. For the first time that it may not happen it need five to ten years.”

In response, the national Minister of Youth and Sport, Dr.Albino Bol said, the budget for all national football team are underway and will soon be tabled at the council of the ministers.

He revealed that President Salva kiir had directed had directed his ministry to draft the budget.

“I want to assure you that during my discussion with the president two days ago he said all the national teams who are playing for the name of South Sudan their budget must be presented to the council of ministers to be approved as the resolution of the councils of ministers,” Bol said.

“So the budget to be wired to the accounts of these national teams, whether individual sports, national teams U20,U17,or senior team and Basketball any team play on the name of South Sudan their budget must because they are soldiers who are fighting for our flag.”

Meanwhile, the president of South Sudan Basketball Federation has call on all South Sudanese to stand behind all national teams, be it basketball or football.

Mr. Lual Deng said all the national teams are representing the same nation and they need equal support.

“To the U-20 team, you guys are heroes of our future, you guys I’m very proud of you, and that is a sport in general, not just basketball, not just football, in all, we are all together we are doing this as one.”

“Right now, it is a unique time that they are paying more attention to sports, and what you guys did the U20 and football federation I want to say congratulation you guys, because now everyone is talking about football and basketball and other sports. I believe that we did it all together.”