(JUBA) – The Aweil Peace Tournament, organised by the Aweil Youth Union in Juba, will officially kick off on Monday, 7 July, at the Buluk playground. The event initially scheduled for Sunday was rescheduled due to a clash with the Tonj Super League final, which is also set to take place at the same venue on Sunday.
The tournament aims to foster peace, unity and community engagement among young people from the Aweil region and across South Sudan. The organisers hope that through sport, youth from different counties and communities can come together in a spirit of friendship and peaceful competition.
The opening match will feature Aweil North and Aweil South football teams. Aweil North has already announced a 30 man squad for the tournament, showcasing players selected from various local clubs and youth groups.
The squad was unveiled earlier this week and is expected to arrive well prepared for the opening fixture.
The tournament’s Technical Committee has not yet released the full match fixtures. However, sources close to the organisers say the fixtures will be published on Sunday, 6 July. These fixtures will outline match days, venues, and the order in which participating teams will compete in the coming weeks.
The Buluk playground in Juba has become a central venue for community-based football events and youth tournaments, particularly those led by diaspora unions from South Sudan’s states and counties. The playground’s accessibility and central location make it a popular choice for such events, although double bookings like the one seen this weekend are not uncommon.
The Aweil Peace Tournament is expected to attract teams and supporters from Aweil North, Aweil South, Aweil East and other areas in Northern Bahr el Ghazal State, as well as residents of Juba originally from the Aweil region.
The event also receives informal support from community elders and local business leaders, who see it as a platform for positive youth engagement and dialogue.
In recent years, peace tournaments like this one have become an important part of civil society activities in South Sudan. In the absence of many formal opportunities for youth development, such events help fill a gap by promoting sportsmanship, conflict resolution and inter county relationships.
The Aweil Youth Union has called on all supporters to attend the opening match and support their teams peacefully. Organisers have also emphasised the importance of discipline among players and fans throughout the tournament.
No information on entrance fees was published.
