Final Whistle Echoes Across Juba
Saturday evening at Buluk Playground, Juba, ended in exhilaration as Twic Mayardit edged Tonj North 2–1, lifting the third Warrap State Peace Tournament trophy. The sold-out crowd of students, civil servants and soldiers erupted, sensing significance beyond football.
An early Twic strike, a Tonj equaliser and a late decider kept suspense alive until the referee’s final blast. Players embraced opponents in a symbolic huddle, reminding spectators that the contest was organised to mend, not widen, local rifts.
Sport as a Bridge for Warrap Communities
Since its launch in 2021, the Warrap Peace Tournament has paired fierce competition with reconciliation workshops. Local chiefs, women’s groups and clergy attend every fixture, turning the stands into a forum where grievances are discussed between halves rather than on battlefields.
Chairperson Deng Dut Parek reiterated his mission: creating “social harmony through friendly competitions that teach understanding, respect and unity.” Many observers say the formula mirrors nationwide calls for community-led conflict resolution in South Sudan.
Voices from the Pitch
“Keep championing peace in your villages,” Parek urged medal-laden Twic players, announcing a winner’s purse of 25 million SSP. Simon Akuei Deng, Commissioner-General of the NRA, praised the youth, calling sport “a viable avenue for consolidating stability.”
Gen Bona Panek Biar of the South Sudan Pension Fund applauded volunteers and sponsors, insisting that similar tournaments should ripple across counties. His remarks drew applause from coaches who spent months training unpaid.
Prizes, Pride and Practical Impact
Beyond medals, the cash prizes—25 million, 15 million and 10 million SSP—fund school fees, medical bills and village projects. Economists note that such injections of liquidity can soften competition for scarce resources, a frequent trigger of communal clashes.
Sponsors, including diaspora traders, view their contribution as preventive investment. “Peace saves us freight costs,” joked one Juba merchant, hinting at how improved security lowers transport insurance premiums.
Looking Ahead to Bigger Fields
Twic Mayardit’s captain promised to defend the crown next year, and organisers plan to invite teams from neighbouring Bahr el Ghazal. If achieved, Warrap’s tournament could evolve into a regional carnival that exports its message of unity along with rising football talent.