(JUBA) – South Sudan’s leading mobile operators, Zain and Digitel, played to a 1 to 1 draw in a highly anticipated football match at Buluk Training Ground on Sunday, bringing their commercial rivalry onto the sports field for the first time.
Marketed by Zain as the “Telecom Derby,” the game formed part of the Corporate League, an event that has become a soft power platform for major companies to engage staff, promote teamwork and boost brand visibility beyond traditional advertising.
Both teams fought hard throughout the match, with neither side able to secure a winning goal before the final whistle. Zain had announced a social media campaign ahead of the game, offering 3GB of data to ten fans who correctly predicted the exact score. With the final result ending 1 to 1, many online participants celebrated being in contention for what amounts to 3,000 SSP ($0.42) worth of free mobile internet.
| Match Details | Zain vs Digitel Football Derby |
|---|---|
| Full Time Score | 1 – 1 |
| Venue | Buluk Training Ground, Juba |
| Competition | Corporate League |
| Promotion | 3GB data prize for correct score predictions |
| Eligibility | Zain subscribers with registered numbers |
Although officially labelled a draw, Zain declared on social media that it had “owned the game,” while Digitel has not yet issued its own post match statement.
With mobile networks competing for customer loyalty in a price sensitive market, activities such as football matches and data giveaways offer cost effective engagement tools.
Mobile phone users in Juba say they welcome such competitions, but also want operators to improve network stability and reduce data costs.