Yambio peace tournament going zigzag

By Philip Thon Aleu

January 17, 2010 (YAMBIO, WES) – “This is not football. This is not
basketball. This is not netball. It’s our favorite game” are excuses
fans have resorted after victorious play in one game and defeat from
another in Yambio.

For instance, when Jonglei basketball team massacred Western
Equatoria State team 82 scores to less than 10 scores Saturday
evening, a trailing defeat was registered by Jonglei football players
facing the same group earlier in the day. The games here are virtually
win-loss styles. No-State takes it all and so does the 5th peace
anniversary. Neither north nor south Sudan will take CPA all.

A lot of entertainments; from football to basketball and volleyball to
athletics are on-going across Yambio town. At the main stadium where
most games, but football, are organized right now the mood is soft
with welcoming atmosphere. People spend most of their day time at
Yambio Stadium – watching the sport activities and enjoying fresh air
at the town’s sole skyscraper. Posters of expected guests including
President of the Republic of the Sudan Omer Al Bahsir and Vice
President Salva Kiir Maryardit are erected on giant poles in the town
and at Yambio stadium. A prominent placard is that of Sudan People’s
Liberation Movement founder late Dr. John Garang de Mabior.

In sports, and taking Jonglei teams for as representative, the games
are zigzag – a no-one state wins or defeats. Friday was bad day for
Jonglei football team having registered the tournament worse defeat of
5 to 1 goals from Northern Bar El Ghazal. And on Saturday morning, the
Bor town football team was sent off the tournament by host – the
Western Equatoria State, Yambio by 4 to 2 goals. The home side easily
netted in 2 goals in first half before raising the tallies to four
before 90 minutes. Jonglei’s consoling scores came in second half.
Playing against a host team is always tough specially when visitors
lost and Jonglei football fans and their players are no exception.

“We must train properly before major events. It is a big shame,” a
football fan told his colleagues as Jonglei was being worked over by
Yambio team whose fans were yelling as much as their guts’ strength
could allow.

But football defeat for Jonglei is not the end of the road. Jonglei
basketball team later massacred WES by 82 scores to 9 on Saturday;
thanks to combinations of heights with talent.

Ajang Bior and Alier among other tall players from Jonglei basketball
team thrill audience with speedy scores securing a play in the final
on Monday January 18.

“In football, Jonglei is zero. But when we come to basketball, netball
and volleyball, we are tough,” said Mayai, a fan from Jonglei state.
“We are happy. This is not football and it looks better,” he added.

And Yambio fans say: “This is just basketball. Jonglei is revenging
[after football defeat].”

The CPA tournament involved ladies in many matches including the most
entertaining games such as volleyball. Indeed, the CPA celebrations in
Yambio have balance both sexes, losers and winners in the tournament
as well as Southern Sudan artists astounding Yambio, the capital of
WES. The likes of Southern boys among others are famous in the
artists’ sets that rocking the town with peace songs such ‘pel ku tiil
me pan-da’ – literally translated as ‘leave tribalism out now.’

Another singer’s tape from loud speakers mounted on trucks awakes the
town with colloidal Arabic song that ‘moiya ta yene inta’ literally
meaning ‘tears from the eye is over’ in reference to the stoppage of
Sudan’s conflict by CPA five years ago.

The 5th Anniversary of CPA in Yambio is seen as a vital celebration as
Sudan enters the 6th and the last year of interim period as the
accord. The celebrations are already underway. The whole town is
charged with happiness and one wonders what Jan. 19, 2010, will look
like.

South Sudan will vote in a referendum in January 2011 to confirm the
unity of Africa largest Country or create a separate state. First
post-war general elections are due in April 2010.

(ST)