04 August 2006 — (Juba) — Southern Sudan will participate in the 2010 World Cup.  The Minister of Information, Radio and Television, Dr. Samson Kwaje, said southern Sudan has the capacity to participate in world sports after the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement.

Speaking to reporters in Juba after the signing of a technical cooperation agreement between the governments of southern Sudan and Kenya, Kwaje said football has become a popular sport among southern Sudanese.

[Samson Kwaje]: “As a ministry we are trying our very best and we are also hoping that Southern Sudan will be represented because we want to build a strong football team but would also try to excel to in athletics. This is has been one of the things in SPLM that 4 to 5 years after the signing of the peace agreement we should be able to compete in world sports. One of the things that we discussed in Kenya culturally is to help us train in particular athletics and they are willing to give us coaches.”

The minister urged southern Sudanese talented in football to represent southern Sudan in World Cup football competition to be held in South Africa in 2010.