Sports Unite People for Peace
Twenty-year old Chika Sydney Edward Joshua/has been playing football/for only six years. Nevertheless,/he’s skilled enough/to play for the South Sudan “Under-23” team. “I love soccer. Soccer unites people,”/he says.
Joshua and his teammates held an intra-squad exhibition match/on National Unity Day,/which focused on social cohesion/in the peace process in South Sudan. It was the highlight of National Unity Day. Players tackled each other/in a fierce competition,/while sharing a message of peace and unity/with the fans. After Team A won,/the players of both teams embraced each other,/sharing their love/for the game and for their country.
After the game,/the audience clapped, danced and sang messages of peace/with a local music legend/who performed a series of songs about peace.
In a post-game interview,/Joshua gave his impressions of his country. “I yearn for the people of South Sudan/to forgive each other. It’s time/to be one nation. We are comrades. Let us forget/about the past civil war. When I look at our country,/the outlook is bright. If only we can forgive one another,/then this country will grow to be a better place for everyone,/including visitors from all over the world. They will come here and have fun. When they go back home,/they will say,/‘Wow,/South Sudan is a splendid place!’”
Many South Sudanese are more optimistic/about the future/with the signing of a revitalized peace agreement. They hope/that a permanent end to the violence/will encourage investment in development. That will also give people the chance/to reach their full potential.
The government has given support/and celebrates peace through sports. “The benefits of sports in uniting people/are tremendous,”/said the vice-president. “Sports bring people together/across culture,/language,/gender and social class.”
National Unity Day,/modeled after the Japanese National Athletic Meet,/was originally sponsored by JICA. It’s a special event/held once a year/for local athletes. Over 360 selected athletes participate. Sports activities,/such as soccer, volleyball and track-and-field,/are held. The games are exciting and conducted/in the spirit of fair play. The competition venues are filled with spectators.
Joshua says,/“Our country had been at war/until 2018. So,/we had difficulty in succeeding. Now whenever I see sports stars,/I think/I can be one of them. I have passion/and I’ve set myself a target,/a dream to achieve.”
Twenty-year old Chika Sydney Edward Joshua/has been playing football/for only six years. Nevertheless,/he’s skilled enough/to play for the South Sudan “Under-23” team. “I love soccer. Soccer unites people,”/he says.
Joshua and his teammates held an intra-squad exhibition match/on National Unity Day,/which focused on social cohesion/in the peace process in South Sudan. It was the highlight of National Unity Day. Players tackled each other/in a fierce competition,/while sharing a message of peace and unity/with the fans. After Team A won,/the players of both teams embraced each other,/sharing their love/for the game and for their country.
After the game,/the audience clapped, danced and sang messages of peace/with a local music legend/who performed a series of songs about peace.
In a post-game interview,/Joshua gave his impressions of his country. “I yearn for the people of South Sudan/to forgive each other. It’s time/to be one nation. We are comrades. Let us forget/about the past civil war. When I look at our country,/the outlook is bright. If only we can forgive one another,/then this country will grow to be a better place for everyone,/including visitors from all over the world. They will come here and have fun. When they go back home,/they will say,/‘Wow,/South Sudan is a splendid place!’”
Many South Sudanese are more optimistic/about the future/with the signing of a revitalized peace agreement. They hope/that a permanent end to the violence/will encourage investment in development. That will also give people the chance/to reach their full potential.
The government has given support/and celebrates peace through sports. “The benefits of sports in uniting people/are tremendous,”/said the vice-president. “Sports bring people together/across culture,/language,/gender and social class.”
National Unity Day,/modeled after the Japanese National Athletic Meet,/was originally sponsored by JICA. It’s a special event/held once a year/for local athletes. Over 360 selected athletes participate. Sports activities,/such as soccer, volleyball and track-and-field,/are held. The games are exciting and conducted/in the spirit of fair play. The competition venues are filled with spectators.
Joshua says,/“Our country had been at war/until 2018. So,/we had difficulty in succeeding. Now whenever I see sports stars,/I think/I can be one of them. I have passion/and I’ve set myself a target,/a dream to achieve.”