South Sudan’s Eastern Equatoria region is set to send four athletes to represent the country in the African Under-18 athletics competitions in March.

According to the Athletes Team Coach for Eastern Equatoria region Simon Barnabas, the four are part a team of 14 athletes who participated in the just concluded JICA 4th National Unity Day 2019 tournaments in Juba.

Barnabas said the athletes from Torit and Kapoeta States broke regional African records qualifying them for the continental competitions in Tanzania, Djibouti and Ivory Coast.

“The four players after two weeks will be going to represent in Africa others will go to Djibouti to run there. Then Idaha and Otimore will go to Tanzania for under 18 championships. Then Imani is going to Djibouti to run half marathon,” he added.

Coach Barnabas also commended the team and promised to recruit more boys and girls to take up athletics with the help of relevant authorities.

For her part, Torit State Minister of Information, Culture, Youth and Sports Margaret Idwa Dominica encouraged the athletes to balance sports and education for holistic growth.

“You have two very important things in your life right now. Number one is education. Number two is the second curriculum and the second curriculum is the one that you are in. They go together,” she advised.

The minister further urged both the government and the community to support sporting activities in the region.

Eastern Equatoria athletics team returned from Juba this Monday after bagging 2 Trophies and 16 Medals from the recent competition that started on 23rd January to 3rd February 2019 in Juba.