Juba-based Kator Football Club on Sunday beat Viva Stars FC in a penalty kickout 4-2 in the opening of the first round of the South Sudan Cup 2023/24 at Buluk Stadium.
Patrick Jimmy scored the first goal for Viva Stars in the fifth minute of the first half but in the second half, Kator’s striker, Ugandan national Fazio managed to level the score.
The match ended in a tie at the end of full regular time prompting a penalty shot out that ended in Kator FC winning over Viva Star by 4-2.
With this result, Kator, the reigning champion of the South Sudan Cup 2022/23 will move to the second round of the tournament.
The opening of the thirteenth edition of the South Sudan Cup was attended by Central Equatoria State Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports Rita Dominic, the President of South Sudan Football Association (SSFA) Gen. Augustino Maduot, and several prominent football personalities in Juba.
The chairperson of the Juba Local Football Association’s steering committee, Moris Felix, described the opening of the tournament as a historic day as it marked the resumption of football sporting activities in Juba after a year of suspension.
‘’This is a historic day for us at the Juba Local Football Association,’’ he said. ‘The resumption of sporting activities after a year of suspension is not something easy. We suffered a lot here in Juba because of the suspension of sporting activities but I would like to reassure football fans that the thrills and competition are back.’’
For her part, Minister Dominic thanked the Juba Local Football Association’s steering committee for their efforts in resuming football sporting activities in Juba.
She pledged her ministry’s commitment to supporting football in Juba, adding that football is a bridge to love and harmony for the people of South Sudan.