Arop
By: Arop Jongchol
The South Sudan Premier League is set to resume after the postponement of the entire 12th round due to the national women’s team’s participation in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Algeria. The 13th and final round of the first leg will take place over four days: Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday.
Title Race and Relegation Battle
This round serves as a crucial juncture in the title race, with Juba Buffaloes aiming to maintain their top position. Meanwhile, the battle intensifies among mid-table and bottom teams as they fight to escape the relegation zone, adding further excitement to the upcoming fixtures.
Friday Matches: Salam vs. Al-Merrikh | Young Star vs. Jamus
These fixtures come with special significance. Al-Merrikh Bentiu, currently in fourth place with 23 points, seeks a crucial victory to move closer to the top spots. Meanwhile, Salam Aweil, in eighth place with 13 points, hopes to bounce back from a heavy 4-0 defeat to league leaders Jamus in the previous round and avoid further decline.
In the other match, Young Star Torit, sitting in 11th place, faces a tough challenge against league leaders Jamus Juba. Young Star aims for a victory to boost their survival chances, while Jamus look to extend their lead at the top.
Saturday Matches: Kator vs. Bentiu City | Malakia vs. Nile City
Bentiu City hopes to recover from recent disappointments, especially after losing the Bentiu derby to Al-Merrikh last round. Currently in ninth place with 11 points, they seek a win to move away from danger. Meanwhile, Kator Juba understands that any slip-up could push them further from the title race, having led the table earlier in the season.
On the other hand, Nile City from Yambio faces a dire situation, sitting at the bottom with just one point from a single draw against Salam Aweil, losing all other matches. They aim to break their losing streak. Malakia Juba, in sixth place with 14 points, is looking to continue their resurgence after defeating Wajuma last round and closing the gap with the top teams.
Sunday Matches: Holy Family vs. Koryom | Hilal vs. Olympic
This round features a fiery showdown as second-placed Holy Family Rumbek (25 points) takes on fifth-placed Koryom Bor (22 points) in a match of significant importance for both teams. Holy Family aims to widen the gap with their challengers, while Koryom hopes to strengthen their position among the top contenders.
In another match, Hilal Wau, in 12th place with 7 points, faces Olympic Renk, who sit just above the bottom with 5 points. Both teams know that victory is their only escape from the relegation battle.
Monday Match: Lion Hunters vs. Wajuma
A highly anticipated derby between Lion Hunters Yei and Wajuma Aweil will conclude the round. Lion Hunters have 10 points, while Wajuma sits seventh with 13 points. Both teams seek redemption after suffering defeats to Hilal and Malakia, respectively, in the previous round.
End of the First Leg… The Battle Intensifies
As the South Sudan Premier League reaches a decisive stage, competition among teams tightens as they aim to solidify their positions before the second leg kicks off. This round presents an opportunity for every team to earn crucial points and improve their standing in the league table.
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