South Sudan marks statehood with football match

First national team plays Kenyan club in friendly, and pride and celebrations abound despite 3-1 defeat

guardian.co.uk, Xan Rice in Juba, Sunday 10 July 2011

A South Sudanese man dons a shirt made of the new national flag during
his country's match against Tusker in the capital, Juba.
Photograph: Pete Muller/AP

A new country needs many things: passports, stamps, a currency, an international dialling code, to name a few. For Republic of South Sudan, there was a further urgent priority – a football team.

As part of the independence celebrations, a friendly against a Kenyan premier league team, Tusker, was scheduled on Sunday. But who would play for the new national side? First, a call went out to the four or five southerners who regular represented the old, united Sudan, as it was before succession on Saturday. However, most players are contracted to clubs in Khartoum and could not get permission to leave.

But James Joseph could. The tall, veteran striker for the national team was playing for a club in Goa, India, when he received the urgent call to go home. He did not think twice, paying his own way to Juba, via Dubai and Nairobi.

"I felt so lucky to be able to play for my own country at last," said Joseph, who is originally from the southern town of Nimule, but grew up in Khartoum during the 21-year civil war.

His teammates that joined him at the 10-day training camp were all locally based.

Among them was Joseph's strike partner, Khamis Leiluno, a barrel-chested 23-year-old from Wau, who was also the team captain. He spoke no English – the official working language of the new republic – but was apparently prolific in front of goal.

"We are ready to tell the world that South Sudan is around," he said.

Translating for him was midfielder Justin Wani, who casually mentioned that his father was killed during the war with the north. The last line of defence was goalkeeper Yahaya Abas. He plays for a club in Juba, though not for money. "Here we play for the love of the game," he said.

But this game – the country's first – was about more than love. It was about forging unity, said the coach, Malis Soro. For all its togetherness in rejecting the oppression from the north, South Sudan is made up dozens of ethnicities and still lacks a real national identity. "Football is a medium to bring people together," Soro said, sitting under a tree at the White Nile Lodge, a dozen footballs and stacked orange cones at his feet.

So, a squad, a coach, a team hotel and a team bus – or rather two battered minibuses that normally served as collective taxis. But what of a uniform? Soro pointed to two sets of jersey hanging from one of the player's doors: one red, the other white and green. They had been bought from shops in Dubai and Uganda, he said. The words "South Sudan" had been ironed on the back, and small flag on the front. Some had already peeled off.

A sponsor? He laughed.

But the team's home field did have sponsors, including Chinese and Malaysian petroleum firms working in South Sudan's rich oilfields. They had paid Chinese contractors to renovate Juba's main stadium, built on the Nile's banks in 1962. The pitch had been relaid, and was now a lush emerald green. Floodlights had been erected – a standout feature in a city without streetlights – and new chairs installed.

The seating capacity was around 1,600, said Daniel Abas, treasurer of Juba's football association. Hundreds more people could stand, he said. Asked about tickets, he replied that entrance would be free.

"When we decide that the number inside is enough we will close the doors and say 'Enough'. The police will do their work."

Despite their captain's confidence, the players acknowledged that their first game together would be tough. Their height – many southerners are extraordinarily tall – may be an asset in basketball, but not necessarily in football. Indeed, coach Soro said their playing style would be less like Barcelona, his favourite team, than a physical English side.

Was he nervous? "Yes. I'm a coach – I am supposed to win."

Early in the game on Sunday night, in front of an enthusiastic crowd, it looked as if he might. But after taking the lead, his team scored an own goal, then the Kenyan team doubled their tally. A second own goal made it 3–1. Still, the crowd was not too perturbed. It had not been a bad weekend.