South Sudan security forces on Friday disrupted a football match in the town of Bor in Jonglei State, citing security concerns.
The qualifier match for South Sudan championship was being played between the Salam FC and White Bull FC at the Freedom Square.
Simon Garang, the deputy commander of the joint operation forces told Radio Tamazuj the match had to be disrupted after the players and their fans protested the rehabilitation of the football field.
“The [sports] minister wanted to prepare the field ahead of celebrations in Bor. But those youth refused to leave the field. That caused tension between them and the minister. So we only intervened to bring calm and order,” he said.
But several players and the football association officials in the state disputed Garang’s version of the incident.
“In the 27th minute of the match [on Friday], the minister notified us that he wanted to bulldoze a building from the field. So we suspended the game for some minutes. Later, he told us that he failed and he will resume tomorrow [Saturday]. We therefore continued the match,” a Bor Local Football Association (BLFA) official, who preferred anonymity, explained.
Further added the official, “After we resumed the match, while in the 87th minute, he [minister] returned again and went to the field with a bulldozer. We requested him to allow us to continue, but he refused. Players were not happy, had arguments with the minister. The minister called security forces to beat players and shoot in the air”.
He regretted Friday’s incident, saying the minister should apologize.
According to the BLFA official, the tournament resumed on Saturday after the deputy governor intervened, adding that the association would decide the fate of the game, which abruptly ended 2-2.
A player identified as Deng said he sustained bruises during the stampede.
Deng and other players have demanded that the minister resigns.
Daniel Deng, another player, said a committee of players and BLFA officials would meet the governor to address the matter.
“The governor told us that we should select 10 representatives to meet him on the issue”, said Deng.
The youth and sports minister, Dut Abraham Bol declined to comment.