The South Sudan government minister has come under fire for disrupting an National Women’s League match demanding for the removal of his wife who features for one of the top teams in the league.
Aluel Garang, known as Aluel Messi, was playing for Aweil Women against Juba Super Stars over the weekend, when her husband, the National Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management Peter Mayen Manjongdit, arrived at Aweil Freedom Square to stop the match and have his wife taken off the pitch.
The South Sudan Football Association released a statement on Monday confirming the incidence and expressing its disappointment with the move from the government official.
A report in news outlet Hot in Juba said: “The minister stormed the football pitch asking the organisers to stop the match and let his wife come out. The minister was not happy the wife left their three-month-old baby at home and joined her teammates for the game.”
It added, “He was told to wait but he was so impatient and had to fire his pistol in the air disrupting the game. The game was later stopped to allow the minister to go home with his wife.”
“The Administration of South Sudan Football Association would like to express its disappointment for the impropriety act applied by the National Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management Hon. Peter Mayen Majondit who disrupted the official football match in Aweil Town demanding the removal of his wife called Aluel Garang known as Aluel Messi from the field of play.
Therefore, we condemn such transgression by a popular and responsible personnel serving in a higher position in Government. The Administration of SSFA will continue to stand strong and co-operate with the Government to see our women being given a chance to play and exercise their talents freely with confidence. Promotion, development and full participation of women is one the objectives of SSFA.”