Presidential candidate for the South Sudan Football Federation (SSFF), Teng Deng, has pledged to eliminate corruption and promote fairness in football development if elected in the upcoming election on 15 August.
The 38-year-old vowed to lead the federation with integrity, transparency, and a strong commitment to ending favoritism in team selection and leadership.
“Our football needs a clean system that gives every talent a chance—free from favoritism and misuse of power,” said Deng.
He emphasized that the national team should be selected strictly on merit, not tribal or political connections.
“I don’t care where a player is from—Kapoeta, Akobo, Wau, or Abyei. If you can do the job on the pitch, you play. Those are the basic rules,” he stated.
Addressing political interference in football, Deng rejected the idea of selecting players based on family status or influence.
“If someone says, ‘I want my son to play,’ fine—but let the coach decide based on performance. If a player fails and we lose 4-0, it’s not the politician whose blamed—it’s me and the coach,” he added.
Deng also revealed a potential international partnership, saying English Premier League side Newcastle United—where Garang Kuol, a South Sudanese Australian player, plays—has shown interest in visiting South Sudan and supporting football academy initiatives, regardless of the election outcome.
“We need to identify young talent—ages nine or ten—and help them develop. South Sudan needs football that can stand on its own, generate its own funds, and stop relying on government support,” he said.
Teng Deng is one of four candidates contesting the SSFF presidency, including incumbent General Augustino Madut.
, Teng Deng, has pledged to eliminate corruption and promote fairness in football development if elected in the upcoming election on 15 August.){kind=link}