By Sabri Dibaco
Naduru Area successfully defended their Yambio Inter-Area Championship title after edging Baiparu Area 1-0 in the final of the 7th edition of the tournament, completing a remarkable back-to-back triumph just a month after the tragic death of their head coach, George Kobo.
The hard-fought victory saw Naduru once again overcome Baiparu in the Inter Area Tournament 7th edition final, repeating last year’s result against the same opponents to become consecutive champions of Yambio’s biggest community football competition.
The final attracted thousands of football fans and was graced by the governor of Western Equatoria State, Daniel Badagbu, who attended as the guest of honour. The governor congratulated both teams for displaying sportsmanship and encouraged young people to embrace sports as a tool for promoting peace, unity, and development in the state.
For Naduru, the victory carried deep emotional significance. The triumph came barely a month after the team’s head coach, George Kobo, was shot dead, a loss that sent shockwaves through the football fraternity in Western Equatoria State.
Before kickoff, Naduru players, officials, and supporters paid tribute to their late coach, dedicating the final to his memory. Many players wore black armbands and observed a moment of silence in honour of the coach who had guided the team to success.
Coach Kobo had expressed confidence in his team before his death. In what turned out to be his first and final game of the season, he declared that Naduru’s ambition was to defend the championship they had won the previous year.
“We want to defend our title,” Coach George Kobo said before his untimely death.
His words became a source of inspiration for the team throughout the tournament.
The decisive goal in the final was enough to seal victory against a resilient Baiparu side, who reached the inter-area final match for the second consecutive year but again fell short against their rivals.
Speaking after the match, Naduru players described the victory as a fulfillment of their late coach’s dream.
“This trophy belongs to Coach George Kobo. We promised to fight for him and defend the title, and today we have fulfilled that promise,” Mama Naduru said.
The Yambio Inter-Area Championship has grown into one of the most prestigious grassroots football tournaments in Western Equatoria State, bringing together teams from different residential areas while promoting unity, peaceful coexistence, and youth talent development.
With their second consecutive title, Naduru have cemented their place as the dominant force in the competition.
More importantly, the victory will be remembered as an emotional tribute to Coach George Kobo, whose belief in his players inspired them to honour his legacy by defending the championship exactly as he had envisioned.