A Game-Changer for South Sudan’s Disabled Community
The Blind Premier League, which started in 2023, is South Sudan’s first football league for the visually impaired. Supported by the non-governmental organization Light for the World, the league is giving young blind athletes a chance to play the game they love. The organization focuses on promoting disability rights and inclusion in several African nations, including South Sudan, and aims to break down barriers for people with disabilities.
The league currently has four teams, all based in Juba, and its players range in age from 15 to their 20s. For many, it provides an opportunity they never imagined. One of those players is Jimmy Just Augustin, the captain of the Kator Blind Football Club, who lost his sight in childhood after a misdiagnosed eye condition led to permanent damage.
“I never thought I would play football again. I thought I would never be able to do any kind of sport,” said Augustin, who is now known as “Messi” by his teammates for his impressive dribbling skills. “With blindness, you can feel like you’re nothing, like you can’t do anything. But now, with blind football, I have the chance to play again, to make friends, and to feel happy.”
The Rules of Blind Soccer
Blind football follows a different set of rules to accommodate the players’ needs. Each team has five players: four outfield players who are blind and a goalkeeper who can see partially or fully. All outfield players must wear eye patches or eyecovers to ensure fairness, as some may have some light perception while others don’t. The ball is specially designed with built-in rattles, so players can hear it as it moves.
The game is played on a smaller field with walls around it, preventing the ball from going out of bounds and keeping the game fast-paced. The teams also have two guides—one at the halfway line and another behind the goal—to help with navigation. In matches, spectators must remain silent so the players can focus on the sounds of the game, particularly the ball.
Overcoming Challenges in a War-Torn Nation
South Sudan has faced decades of war and instability, which has left many of its people displaced or living in challenging conditions. Since gaining independence in 2011, the country descended into a civil war that lasted until 2018, and the ongoing violence still impacts daily life. There are an estimated 1.2 million people with disabilities in South Sudan, and many face significant barriers in education, employment, and public life.
Simon Madol, who lives at a refugee camp in Juba, explains the challenges faced by people with disabilities in South Sudan. “The biggest obstacle is the negative attitude of the people,” he said. "People often believe that individuals with disabilities are incapable of doing anything, even within their own families." This leads to discrimination.
Madol, who was once forced to abandon soccer due to the war, found a new passion in blind football. He now serves as both a coach and a technical director in the league and works with Light for the World to promote disability inclusion. Despite challenges like a lack of accessible equipment and fields, the league is already having a positive impact on its players.
"Previously, people only went from home to school and back. Now, they come from far to play blind football. They’re meeting new people, making connections, and finding new opportunities,” Madol said.
Expanding the League and Building a Legacy
The Blind Premier League is still in its early stages, but the league is already aiming to grow. Madol hopes to expand the competition to include teams from all parts of South Sudan. He is also working with the International Blind Sports Association (IBSA) to register South Sudan for the 2026 Blind Football African Championship, with the hope of eventually qualifying for the World Blind Football Championship.
“It was once just a dream, but now it’s becoming a reality,” Madol said. “We are working towards our goal of playing in the 2028 Paralympics.”
A Bright Future
For players like Augustin, Madol, and others, the Blind Premier League represents more than just sport. It’s a powerful tool for changing societal attitudes toward disability in South Sudan. As the league continues to grow, it offers hope not just for athletes, but for all those who face discrimination or exclusion because of their disabilities.
Through football, these players are showing that a disability is not a barrier to achieving greatness. They’re proving that, with the right opportunities and support, people with disabilities can thrive and be leaders in their communities. And in a country still recovering from conflict, the Blind Premier League offers a ray of hope for a more inclusive future.