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Al-Wadi Newspaper – Al-Naeim Mubarak Kuol
In an exclusive interview with Hattrick24 Sports, Mr. Choul Laam, candidate for the presidency of the South Sudan National Olympic Committee, revealed the key elements of his electoral program for the 2025–2029 term. His vision centers on developing Olympic sports in the country and building a promising generation of athletes capable of representing South Sudan at regional and international levels.
Choul emphasized that his program is rooted in promoting a culture of sports in primary and secondary schools, in cooperation with the Ministries of General Education and Youth & Sports. He highlighted that investing in children and youth is the cornerstone of building a strong athletic foundation.
“We want to recreate the success story of South Sudan’s basketball stars who amazed the world and even the NBA. We have incredible talent and potential—we must harness it to build a bright sporting future.”, He stated.
Backed by Sports Federations and a Plan for Change
Choul noted that his candidacy is supported by the South Sudan Basketball Federation, and confirmed that he has formed a professional team to contest the elections with a clear goal of bringing real change to the sports scene.
He stressed the importance of revitalizing the National Olympic Committee, which currently includes ten active federations, namely: Basketball, Volleyball, Handball, Taekwondo, Boxing, Judo, and Athletics, among others.
“These federations are active and have real potential,” he said, “and with the right support for coaches and athletes, they can achieve far more and raise the flag of South Sudan high in regional competitions.”, he added.
Talent Development and Overcoming Challenges
The candidate expressed his gratitude to those who have worked to maintain sports activity in past years, but emphasized that the next phase requires fresh energy and innovative ideas to understand and overcome existing challenges—especially those related to training conditions, limited funding, and weak infrastructure.
In this regard, Shul called for diversifying funding sources, moving beyond sole dependence on government financing. He urged partnerships with the private sector and international donors to mobilize the resources necessary for sports development.
He also highlighted the urgent need to build stadiums and sports facilities to international standards, and to invest more in sports infrastructure. A particular focus will be on launching regular school sports competitions to identify and nurture talent from an early age.
His Goal: National Unity and Serving the Next Generation
Choul concluded by stressing that his candidacy is not about personal gain or chasing money, but a genuine desire to serve the youth and the nation. He said:
“I want to contribute to building national unity through sports, and invest in this generation so that ten years from now, they can lead the global sports scene—just like the South Sudanese players currently shining in the NBA.”
He also pointed out that South Sudan is home to hidden talents and untapped potential, urging everyone to believe in the youth and support the national sports revival project.
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