Across Sudan

Fly Sports reaches out to young people through football, its league has 14 teams. Salt and Light ministries has grown out of this programme. Its main emphasis is to disciple within small groups the same age group. Fly Sports currently has two leagues, 14-34 yrs league runs for 6 months, the 9-14s runs for 3 months annually. We Coach 1 -2 local teams and coaches of all teams in the league. The kids’ league has 22 teams, and the older league 14 teams. As the league progresses games happen 4 times a week. The league itself takes much organization to ensure it happens effectively. Working with different teams in the town mean that we are also working within different tribal groups. Here we are able to bring a message of peace and reconciliation as well as football. Meetings in which we seek to foster unity among the local authorities, to plan and organize league activities are also organized between referees and local authorities (e.g. office of youth and sports, football association and commissioner’s office).

Salt and light ministries began 2009 as a discipleship programme, something that has been lacking in Southern Sudan. Young people are discipled to enable them to grow and stand firm in their faith. Currently we work in 2 primary schools with about 400 pupils in total who have registered to take part. Each person is in a small group, which gives us a welcome challenge. Having many different tribal groups involved can sometimes be a challenge. We facilitate dialogue between tribal groups, encouraging people to live in unity. Through integration, friendships between different tribal groups have been made.

Since the war, many people lack enthusiasm for work. Through the programme, the youth are kept active through football, seeing a new way of living.

Within the league, the expectation of the young people involved is to honor players in other teams, not to use bad language, or violence and to accept losing graciously, it is the taking part and giving your best that is the most important thing.

At certain matches, the gospel is preached, prayers are said before matches, testimonies are given. Before fly sports existed, informal coaching of young people out playing on local fields, and gradually a team was formed. Luate Moses was one of these players. He seemed to have an anger problem, kicking out at people, and reacting badly in many circumstances when he felt he had been wronged. Over time he was encouraged to express his anger whilst kicking the ball, not other people and therefore  release his anger that way. He was given responsibilities such as washing uniforms, and was made the captain. The Fly Sports leader when absent delegated responsibility of being in charge.. He has overcome his anger  and now a responsible young man. He completed a Vocational Training Course becoming a qualified electrician and is now working as a casual with Fly Sports as a coach.