Traditional wrestling: the sport that fills Juba on a Saturday

Long before the first bout begins, the drums have already started. Supporters arrive in groups, singing the songs of their home areas, and by the time the wrestlers step into the ring the stands are full and the noise is constant.

Traditional wrestling has deep roots among many communities in South Sudan, where it was long a test of strength and a celebration after the harvest. Today’s national championship keeps those traditions while adding a modern structure: state teams, a league table, referees and a final that draws one of the biggest crowds of the sporting year.

Bouts are short and decisive. A wrestler wins by bringing his opponent’s back or shoulders to the ground, and a team match is decided by the number of bouts won. Strategy matters as much as power: coaches decide who faces whom, and a single upset can swing a whole match.

Organisers also see the championship as a platform for unity, bringing young people from different states together in competition rather than conflict. Sports HQ carries live scores from every match, with selected bouts on Sports HQ Local.