Football matches celebrate new minister in Rumbek

April 20, 2013 (RUMBEK) – Celebrations continue in Lakes state over the appointment of Madong William Mading, as the new minister of culture, youth and sport last weekend with youth from Yirol East County organising a football match in his honour on Saturday.

The peaceful match between the Conzaga and Shalom teams were attended by thousands of people in Rumbek’s freedom square with fans holding up placards asking the newly appointed minister to improve sporting and cultural activities across the eight counties of Lakes state.

Conzaga won the match by two goals to nil.

Speaking during his welcoming ceremony, Mading urge youth not to pursue local politics but focus on community projects such as cleaning up their football field and encouraging girls to take up sport as well as boys.

He added that inter-county sport and cultural competitions will be organised before the end of season, with the finals held in the capital.

The recent announcement of Lakes state’s new cabinet by the military caretaker Governor Maj-Gen Matur Chul Dhuol on Friday has drawn mixed reactions but Mading’s appointment has been widely welcomed due to his long experience.

He has served in the Lakes State government as a Director General since inception of South Sudan government in 2005. He served in the Ministry of Information, Culture, Telecom, Youth and Sport from 2005 till 2010, when the ministry was divided into the Ministry of Information, Culture, Youth and Sport and continued serving as Director General.

Mading was sworn in on Monday 15 April replacing his fomer boss Matur Majok Ahjac. Mading’s appointment took him by surprise after he failed to secure a place in the former government led by the former governor Chol Tong Mayay in April 2012.

(ST)