Mabor Makuer Dhuol, a 50-year-old traditional wrestler in Cuei-Adukan Village of Rumbek Central County, called on the government to do more to promote wrestling as a sport.
Mabor said he joined wrestling in Cuei-Adukan in 2022.
Traditional wrestling, a hugely popular sport in the world’s youngest nation, is widely practised among the communities for friendly competition for entertainment purposes.
“There are so many things in wrestling games, and it is a part of sports games to the cattle keepers and rural youth that bring youth in the community together for peace,” Mabor told Radio Tamazuj on Tuesday.
“Last month, we went to Yirol West County to face Mundari youth from Terekeka county of Central Equatoria State for wrestling and also yesterday, we had a wrestling competition among ourselves as greater Rumbek of Rumbek East and Rumbek central counties,” Mabor Makuer Dhuol explained.
He said anyone who needs to become a strong wrestler should eat good food and meat from cows, goats or drink enough milk. “Like yesterday, more than 50 people came, and a cow had to be slaughtered for the youth to eat,” he said.
“What happens when a person is defeated? Fans become furious, angry and annoyed while the fans of the ones who won against you become more happy and jubilant, but no one will think of having a problem with one another because people from the defeated opponent will be told next time you will defeat another strong person,” he added.
“This is obvious when you are thrown down in a defeat during wrestling, people will tell you next time and you to go and drink enough milk and eat meat in order to build more muscles and become strong,” Mabor said.
He said: “I am very proud of wrestling sports games only because wrestling games have promoted peace in our remote rural villages in the community of Lakes State”.
“Now, there is a peaceful coexistence among the community and freedom of movement which was not there among the communities of Rumbek. In those years, there were too many conflicts and intra-communal violence, but now there is peace, unity, and freedom of movement in the rural villages.”
Mabor explained that wrestling is the only sports competition for the rural youth. He added that wrestling can promote peace and unity. He emphasized that national and state governments must invest in building a stadium dedicated to wrestling.