In a move that signals a significant shift for the future of sport in the world’s youngest nation, the South Sudan Football Federation (SSFF) has entered into a landmark collaboration with Cross Cultures to revolutionize grassroots football.
Following a highly anticipated meeting on May 11, 2026, both organizations announced a unified work plan designed to enhance the beautiful game in a country where the sport is still in its foundational stages.
Dr. Salyi Lolaku Samuel, the Technical Director of the SSFF, described the session as “highly productive,” noting that the long-awaited partnership will place a particular emphasis on supporting both male and female players at the grassroots level across the country.
“By addressing our mutual challenges and merging our efforts into a unified work plan, we are paving the way for a brighter future for South Sudanese football,” Dr. Samuel stated.
The collaboration is especially notable as it marks the first formal meeting between the Federation’s Technical Department and the Cross Culture initiative, despite the latter being active in the region for six years.
Anders Levinsen, the Danish founder and managing director of Cross Cultures and the Open Fun Football Schools (OFFS) program, highlighted the immense scale of the work already completed on the ground. Over the past six years, the program has expanded into six states: Central Equatoria State, Upper Nile State, Northern Bahr el Ghazal, Eastern Equatoria State, Unity State and Jonglei State.
“We have over the years educated more than 1,200 coaches in our specific children’s football education, and we have had more than 80,000 kids playing football according to our concept,” Levinsen revealed.
The new agreement seeks to bridge the gap between these localized efforts and the national governing body.
“I have a wish, and they have a wish, that we get more connected,” Levinsen said, emphasizing the need for a more integrated development strategy.
With several key agreements reached, the SSFF and Cross Cultures plan to begin their joint operations in the coming days. For a nation striving to build its international standing, this partnership represents a critical step toward ensuring the next generation of South Sudanese talent has a clear and supported path.
