South Sudan's Aweil state sports ministry has announced that it will train youth in preparation for the upcoming marathon festival in Juba early next year.

The director for the youth department at Aweil state ministry of information, communication, youth and sports Marol Dhol Kuach, said the training will improve their sports capabilities to participate in the marathon.

The Japanese government through the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) allocates funds to support annual competitions aimed at improving peaceful coexistence among South Sudan communities.

Dhol told Radio Tamazuj on Friday that the department is preparing the teams so they can do their best in the marathon.

“We want to start preparation to participate in January. It did not start but we want to prepare our athletes because the players we have, their season is complete,” he said.    

He added that the ministry is committed to the training despite lack of funds and sports materials being a great challenge. He called on the people of Aweil to raise funds to support the athletes.