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CENTRAL EQUATORIA – Luri was notorious for gang fights, robbery and violence. Communities in this suburb of Juba, the capital of South Sudan, were constantly worried for their safety.

But this is changing, thanks to the efforts of the Hyper Football Club, the brainchild of renowned former South Sudanese footballer, Yakani Joseph Mayom.

Yakani set up the club in 2015 to engage unemployed youth in positive and productive activities and deter them from resorting to petty crime.

“In the past, community members were scared to cross a tiny stream separating two sides of this community,” says Yakani. “Criminality was rampant.”

Today, Hyper FC is a thriving space where youth, irrespective of their ethnicity, gender or place of origin gather to share their passion for sports, work towards common goals, and show respect for others.

“That’s the incredible power of sports as a tool to build peace from the ground up,” says Yakani. 

Another community-driven initiative is boosting Hyper FC’s good work.

Since 2021, a community police network has been enhancing law enforcement in the area.

Every month, community members and police gather to discuss security concerns. The result is a distinct lowering of crime rates, making the area one of the most peaceful in the city.

Another plus is reduced football violence, which makes all the difference for Hyper FC teams and their fans, since community police now supervise all matches.

“In the past there were instances of fighting, even during friendly matches, but now, with the community police doing such a great job, sports lovers like me can enjoy and cheer for our favorites without fear,” reveals Yakani.

Hyper FC also incorporates a special academy for two groups of boys, aged under 17 and under 15, with 30 currently training in the first category and 40 in the second.  

It’s not a boy-only zone. The academy also caters for 28 girls of different ages.

Taban Mubarak Thomas is Hyper Academy’s proud coach. His aim is to unite youth from various schools through friendly matches, promote sports, while also preventing juvenile crime, violence and drug use.

“I love to train all the young teams, but working with the girl’s team is very rewarding for me,” says Taban. “It’s not only about empowering girls with football skills. It also encourages them to continue their education and to refuse early or forced marriages.”

Even more impressive—three female footballers have successfully progressed from this small community club to larger ones representing South Sudan in the Council for East and Central Africa Football Associations.

Running sports programmes aren’t without their challenges. There’s a severe lack of funds for equipment, facilities and even uniforms. Maintenance of the football field, which is constantly flooded during the long rainy season, is another issue.

But such is the social impact of the Hyper FC, that most of the club’s patrons, including civil servants who haven’t been paid for a year—still contribute fees from their meagre savings.

“I hope community members, the police and youth continue supporting our activities,” concludes Yakani.

“It’s clear that sport has helped reduce crime, substance abuse, and positively influenced behaviour and attitudes among our youth. It is giving them a better future to look forward to.”