Friday, March 29, 2024

Sudan Tribune

Plural news and views on Sudan

Jonglei State wins South Sudan Wrestling competition

December 20, 2010 (BOR) – Jonglei state wrestlers were declared South Sudan wrestling champions on Saturday after they beat Central Equatoria state (CES) one-nil in the final.

Bor wrestler, Deng Mawel, celebrates with relatives in Juba stadium on after defeating a rival. Dec. 11, 2010 (ST)
Bor wrestler, Deng Mawel, celebrates with relatives in Juba stadium on after defeating a rival. Dec. 11, 2010 (ST)
Unlike the previous wrestling events, the December 18 competition, ended after only four contests, with Jonglei state achieving one win and three draws.

Jonglei state was represented by Dinka Bor while Mundari represented CES.

Traditional wrestling is practice in Southern Sudan by Dinka Bor from Jonglei state, Ciec, Aliap and Atuot from Lakes state and Mundari from Central Equatoria. All groups keep cattle and the game use to be between youth in cattle camps mainly for fame and pride. But organizers, the Southern Sudan Wrestling Entertainment (SSWE), a private body, are providing better opportunities for traditional wrestlers.

Jonglei’s, Bor county wrestlers, locally known as the ‘Referendum Stars’ were unbeaten in the recent matches, Twic East wrestlers also of Jonglei in October and drawing with Lakes state in the semi-final.

However, in final the best wrestlers of Bor and Twic East counties fought together against CES. Majok Jok, who has won all of his bouts until the final, drew for the first time on Saturday. A second man, Ajang Garang, defeated a Mundari wrestler Ajith. The third and fourth wrestlers drew and the match ended abruptly when both claimed the judges were biased.

Jonglei state wrestlers were declared the champions when Mundari insisted that they would quit unless the fourth man was allowed to fight again. The unwritten rules governing the traditional games do not let wrestlers who draw to fight again in the same competition.

The champions won a cup valued at 10,000 Sudanese Pounds (USD 4,000).

As southern Sudanese prepare for a referendum on January 9 to decide whether to secede from the north.

The organizing body says that the wrestling matches aim to engage cattle keeping youths in productive matches in order to prevent cattle rustling that may interrupt the independence vote.

Mundari youth celebrates after wrestling match in Juba. Nov. 2010 (Photo: Ayuen Panchol, Sudan Radio Services)
Mundari youth celebrates after wrestling match in Juba. Nov. 2010 (Photo: Ayuen Panchol, Sudan Radio Services)

(ST)

9 Comments

  • Anyang
    Anyang

    Jonglei State wins South Sudan Wrestling competition
    Good on you boys!Keep enriching our tradition.Otherwise,merry Xmass to you all.

    Reply
  • Aleu
    Aleu

    Jonglei State wins South Sudan Wrestling competition
    This is my message to our brothers of Dinka Bor and Mundari.

    Please the more always, we need to practics our tradition cultures the less we also get in the development nation like Sudan for instance. I know one from you will tell me that, this is part of employement to do it, but I am strongly rejected that Idea, because there is no more money on practics this wrestling competition and some time a young man might be end up in losing his teeth and more and more disappointment seem to happen when another one beat up the other one.

    We have to focusing on the others important thing such as school, business, Big Agriculture things which will lead Southern Sudan to more development futures rather than going back to practic this traditional that keep our people primitive for years. We do blame Norhern Sudan domination for making their regions more developing than Southern Sudan but in reality there are some failed on our parts too and I think we do not want to encourage people to keep this tradition continues while, the Southern Sudan nation will probably need to be competitive with others Countries in Eastern Africa world why not let us get written off of all these tradition which keep us uneducated and disunity our people.

    I would like if possible that, you can buy it this Cassette of Akut Kuei from the market shop then, it will be good Idea if all Dinkas who can understand Dinka lanuage particular the Rek then, must find the Cassettes for Akut Kuei and listen very careful about their messages very clear and you guys will understand few main important like saying the new generation of this century of the SPLA/SPLM time are become the people who know verythings, they can fight very bravely, learn in school, almost they become prefect to work coordinately with others such as the Nuers, Shullik, and the Equatorians I mean it goes on and on like that but there are very good message in that Cassette if you can afford to buy it then find it now.

    There are many things these young men can do a part from Wrestling game, the North Sudan have young people serving in Air Forces etc, and how came Southern Sudan youths go back to practic tradition none develoment project instead of going to schools to learn just like these people in the North Sudan do.

    Reply
  • Aleu
    Aleu

    Jonglei State wins South Sudan Wrestling competition
    John Ruei, the narrow minds will not help Southern Sudan nation please, think big and you be logic educated.

    Let me repeated again to you so that, you will understand fully what I said. I said one from you will tell me that, the Wrestling game is part of employment but I am strongly reject that Idea. I think you got it now what I said about employment. Well, you guys belief me or not you can see Nubian people and they have been doing this Wrestling for years and go and compare their region with Darfuri regions to see if this game had brought anything to them.

    The Darfuri development is much better than Nubia Mt.John Ruei you can take those Donkeys to teach them in school but in the end of their school, they will still come out as a Donkey name. Those who thinks keeping practices of Wrestling game will make them better is like putting Donkeys in the school and later they come with same Donkey names but I don’t care whether you guys love it or hated my comment that is my opinion part because I want Southern Sudanese youths to try something differently rather than fooling these youths in their future.

    Reply
  • Thonkiir
    Thonkiir

    Jonglei State wins South Sudan Wrestling competition
    You Dinka Bor please stops lying around who recognized you to be wrestling champion. While you have been defeated recently by Lakes state wrestlers 6-4 whereas final match between you and Mundari was interrupted by you due to some weaknesses you identified yourself.

    Reply
Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.