Managers and coaches of over 20 football clubs in South Sudan’s Yei River State have accused football association officials of corruption, poor leadership and mismanaging the development of sports programs in the state.

At least 21 club managers, in a petition letter, requested the state ministry for information, youth and sports to dissolve the association.

The head of coaches in the state, Malish David accused football association officials of corruption and lack of accountability over the last years.

He, for instance, claimed South Sudan Football Association (SSFA) often sends money in both hard currencies and South Sudanese pounds for sports activities in the state, but the funds are allegedly diverted by top officials at Yei football association.

“We want the ministry to do immediate changes in the Yei football association and we need people who are focused. The clubs are the ones sponsoring leagues and our players suffer when they go to Juba for a tournament,” Malish told Radio Tamazuj on Monday.

He added, “We opened an account and the chairman, a signatory to the account, is working eight years without accountability”.

The manager of Dream Football club in Yei, Nicola Andaria said the association’s officials do not cooperate with clubs. “We don’t want the football association, starting from the chairman up to the staff. In our petition, we want the office closed because sports activities are deteriorating due to corruption and also the leaders are operating the office from Juba,” said Andaria.

He further added, “They [officials] do not know what is on the ground”.

Andaria called for election of new officials to run the association.

On his part, the secretary general of Yei football association, Moro Gabriel admitted some of the concerns raised by club managers.

He, however, said proper procedure should be followed by football club managers and coaches in their demands for accountability.

“We accepted the challenges. If there is poor leadership, then we must have changes and if there is no accountability over finance then one can speak about it. What I know is that there is $2,000 usually sent from the national football association and up to now, we did not get the $2,000. I spoke to the chairman about that and he said he is coming to Yei to clarify about that budget,”said Moro.

He, however, said the football association chairman was invited for a meeting by the youth and sports ministry to respond to the concerns.

Meanwhile, the state information, youth and sports minister, Mawa Moses confirmed receiving the petition and admitted that his ministry called for a general meeting with all the football club managers and coaches in order to resolve the differences.

“Our role as a ministry is to go with the decisions of the football managers because we want to see smooth sports activities in the state.  It is through sports that peace is consolidated,” said Mawa.

“We will stand with them [managers] and they also resolved to present a vote of no confidence before the chairman,” he added.