On July 8 of last year, South Sudan wasn’t even a country. Now, they are a country and even more important than being a United Nations member state, they are also a member of FIFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF). On Friday, FIFA president Sepp Blatter and CAF president Issa Hayatou welcomed the national into the world of football and while it was a major step for football in the young nation, there was also that cold splash of reality.
Seven Months After Becoming A Country, South Sudan Gets FIFA Membership
“We are a country that has just come out of war,” South Sudan Football Association president Oliver Benjamin told the AP. “We would love to have an Olympic stadium in our capital ... but above all we lack even the balls and the T-shirts. We don’t have those things in our country. Some of our player use their socks, put clothes in them, wrap them up and play with it.”
So yes, while today was a great day for football in country, they have a long way to go, but at least they’re in the club. Now it’s time to make friends with the cool, rich kids.
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