South Sudan's Minister of Youth, Sports, and Culture Nadia Arop Dudi said there needs to be more local football clubs in order to inrease the talent pool for the national team.

"We have started with the training of the national team, which is a very good idea and it is doing well. Now we want to extend this to the states and counties down to payams and village level. Our plan is not only the national team but there is a need to introduce more local tournaments where the teams can meet and play competitive football,” the minister said.

Nadia spoke on Saturday following the first win of the South Sudan Bright Star in an international match earlier this month. The national team beat Equatorial Guinea 1-0. The minister said President Salva Kiir is organizing a dinner with the Bright Star to take place at State House in Juba.

Nadia said sports are a platform through which the country can achieve unity.

“Sport brings people together the same way love brings couple together. There is no segregation in sports and also in love," Nadia said. "If a rising sport person emerges somewhere, no matter where in the world, this can cross to other country to practice his sporting career without discrimination."