Wrestling’s steering committee in South Sudan will hold an election to install a new leadership on 18 May, a local sports official said.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj on Wednesday, John Chol, a member of the wrestling federation’s organizing committee, called on wrestlers to get ready for the exercise.
“I am one of the people organizing for the elections. As we speak, we are working on a constitution that will guide the election on May 18,” he explained.
Chol, who also heads the wrestling association in Jonglei, said: “We have notified all our wrestlers in the state on the exercise. What happened in Jonglei was that there was an order from the state sports ministry suspending wrestling activities because of elections. We reached out to the ministry and there is nothing like that now.”
He added, “It is the body to be elected in May to go to the state to organize elections with the knowledge of respective ministries,” he said.
Majok Jokrir, a wrestling coach, welcomed a plan to hold elections in May.
For his part, Peter Gatkuoth Makuach, the Jonglei State information minister, said: “Wrestling is a sport which brings youth together. We cannot suspend it. In Jonglei, what happened was a misunderstanding. As a government, we are ready to work with wrestlers for peace.”
Wrestling is a hugely popular sport in South Sudan. It is one of the few outlets where different communities can engage in friendly competition.