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STORY: SOUTH SUDAN / PROFILE FEMALE FOOTBALLER
TRT: 4:43
SOURCE: UNMISS
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS
DATELINE: RECENT, 2024, YEI, SOUTH SUDAN
1. Various of Filda Bandas in field training with male colleagues
2. Ahead of game, Yei Joint Stars team warming up with various stretches
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Filda Bandas, Footballer, Yei Joint Stars, Left Back
“I told myself, if I practice with boys, I can be much stronger than others. Normally I used to play with ladies, so when I play with ladies see I have more energy, that's what makes me to be competitive.”
4. More of warm up in pitch
5.SOUNDBITE (English) Filda Bandas, Footballer, Yei Joint Stars, Left Back
“For my country, I want peace and love. I want my fellow girls to follow my footsteps. They should not relax, they should not be lazy. We have different backgrounds and different families, and some parents do not want their daughters to play football, but I am just requesting that they should allow them to play, so that we can raise up our flag together.”
6. Section of spectators
7. Various of football match against The Peacekeepers
8. SOUNDBITE(English) Njoki Kinyanjui, UNMISS Head of Office, Central Equatoria State
“It was very, very important for us to play them, and to have a friendly with them. Of course they beat us 4-1, but the essence was not about winning. The essence was about communicating messages of peaceful coexistence with the communities here, messaging about our zero tolerance on sexual exploitation and abuse and sexual harassment, messaging about advocacy for the prevention of gender-based violence, and especially targeting young girls, and also messages of peace.”
9. Various of Filda Bandas at gas station
10. Various of Filda arriving at her sister’s house where she lives with her child
11. SOUNDBITE (English) Filda Bandas, Footballer, Yei Joint Stars, Left Back
My plan is to go and play abroad. That is my big dream and plan. That is why I do not want to give up.”
12. various of Filda nursing her child
Filda Bandas is one of South Sudan’s few female-footballers, and the only left-footed player nationally – a skill she is proud of and makes the most of. She and other members of the Yei Joint Stars team are young up and coming female footballers who are breaking cultural norms and defying the odds in a country where sports and most other activities remain male-dominated.
SOUNDBITE (English) Filda Bandas, Footballer, Yei Joint Stars, Left Back
“I told myself, if I practice with boys, I can be much stronger than others. Normally I used to play with ladies, so when I play with ladies see I have more energy, that's what makes me to be competitive.”
Women in Yei and the broader Western Equatorian region have suffered immense harm from persistent conflict, with many losing their lives, their homes, their livelihoods, and their hope. However, the return of a fragile calm has enabled people to restart their lives and explore new opportunities.
SOUNDBITE (English) Filda Bandas, Footballer, Yei Joint Stars, Left Back
“For my country, I want peace and love. I want my fellow girls to follow my footsteps. They should not relax, they should not be lazy. We have different backgrounds and different families, and some parents do not want their daughters to play football, but I am just requesting that they should allow them to play, so that we can raise up our flag together.”
Filda was a star performer at a recent all-female football match organized by the United Nations Mission in South Sudan to engage and unite communities, particularly youth.
SOUNDBITE(English) Njoki Kinyanjui, UNMISS Head of Office, Central Equatoria State
“It was very, very important for us to play them, and to have a friendly with them. Of course they beat us 4-1, but the essence was not about winning. The essence was about communicating messages of peaceful coexistence with the communities here, messaging about our zero tolerance on sexual exploitation and abuse and sexual harassment, messaging about advocacy for the prevention of gender-based violence, and especially targeting young girls, and also messages of peace.”
By day, Filda hustles as a gas station attendant to support her child and extended family. Juggling her job along with motherhood and football is challenging. But she has big dreams.
SOUNDBITE (English) Filda Bandas, Footballer, Yei Joint Stars, Left Back
My plan is to go and play abroad. That is my big dream and plan. That is why I do not want to give up.”
Her desire to soar personally and professionally is inspiring other young women in Yei and beyond to believe that any challenge can be overcome with passion and determination.
