The leadership of the South Sudan Blind Football Association has announced that a recent misunderstanding surrounding the presentation of a trophy won at the African Championship Division Two in Kampala has been amicably resolved.
Speaking during a press conference in Juba, Association President Charles Pascola Clement clarified that concerns raised over the trophy’s presentation were the result of scheduling and procedural arrangements rather than intentional exclusion of the players.
The confusion emerged after the trophy, won during the African Championship Division Two tournament in Kampala, Uganda, was presented without the full participation of the team, sparking debate and criticism on social media.
Some members of the public questioned why the players themselves had not formally handed over the trophy to the Head of State.
Clement, however, said the association’s leadership held a “good and fruitful” meeting with the Minister of Youth and Sport, who explained that the presentation was part of preparations coordinated with the Office of the President.
“She clarified the reasons why the trophy was presented. It was part of scheduling arrangements, and there was no intention to sideline the team,” Clement said.
According to him, the matter has now been settled amicably, and fresh arrangements are underway to ensure that the players personally present the trophy to President Kiir.
The meeting is expected to take place either tomorrow or Friday, offering the athletes a long-awaited opportunity to interact directly with the country’s top leadership.
The development comes as a relief to supporters who had expressed disappointment online, with the association urging the public to disregard what it described as misinformation circulating on digital platforms.
Beyond resolving the trophy row, the association used the press conference to shift attention to the team’s next major assignment the African Blind Football Championship Division One tournament scheduled for September and October in Egypt.
Clement emphasized that the team’s triumph in Division Two last year marked South Sudan’s first-ever participation in a regional blind football tournament a milestone that elevated the country to sixth place in Africa in the sport’s rankings.
Globally, South Sudan currently ranks between 34th and 36th.
He described the upcoming Division One championship as a critical opportunity not only to consolidate the country’s continental standing but also to pursue qualification for the 2028 Paralympic Games in Los Angeles.
“It is a great opportunity for our country. We are preparing seriously to participate and to continue putting South Sudan on the world map,” Clement said.
The association reaffirmed its commitment to expanding blind football development across the country, calling for sustained government and public support to help the athletes compete at the highest level.
As the dust settles on the trophy misunderstanding, the focus now turns to the anticipated meeting with the President a symbolic moment expected to celebrate resilience, unity, and the growing international recognition of South Sudan’s blind football team.
