February 3, 2021, 14:13

On February 3, a signing ceremony was held at Football Fantasium in Sangam-dong, Seoul, with Ju Eun Hyung, CEO of Nassau Co., Ltd., Jung Jin-hwan, Chairman of the Future Hope Foundation, and Lim Heung-se, Head Coach of the South Sudan National U-20 Football Team and Vice President of the South Sudan Olympic Committee.

The campaign was initiated following a proposal from Coach Lim, a South Korean who moved to South Sudan and led the country to its first-ever Olympic qualification. His idea was quickly embraced by Chairman Jung of the Future Hope Foundation and CEO Ju of Nassau, leading to the planning of this meaningful initiative.

Amid frequent famine and civil conflict, Africa’s children are now also suffering from the effects of COVID-19, which has further limited outdoor activity and worsened public health. Through this campaign, soccer balls will be donated to children as a way to support their physical and emotional well-being during the pandemic, offering both hope and health.

Coach Lim’s South Sudan U-20 national team achieved the country’s best-ever result in an international competition, finishing third in the CECAFA U-20 Championship held in Tanzania in December 2020 after defeating Kenya 2-1. The victory brought joy to a nation weary from conflict and crisis.

Nassau and the Future Hope Foundation plan to begin the campaign in South Sudan, where Coach Lim is currently based, and expand it across Africa in cooperation with other NGOs and corporate partners.

Ju Eun Hyung, CEO of Nassau, expressed,

“It’s an honor to work alongside Coach Lim, who is promoting Korea through football in Africa, and to contribute to the health and dreams of African youth.

As Korea’s leading football brand, it is especially meaningful for Nassau to be part of such a campaign in our 50th anniversary year?passing hope and shooting dreams to children through soccer.”

Jung Jin-hwan, Chairman of the Future Hope Foundation, added,

“Our foundation has long delivered messages of hope and peace to children in underprivileged nations by decorating sneakers with drawings and messages.

This time, we will share hope, peace, and health not on shoes?but through soccer balls. We expect this campaign to be even more impactful.”

Coach Lim shared,

“For the war-weary children of South Sudan, football is their dream and hope.

I hope the campaign that starts here will expand to neighboring countries, and that Nassau soccer balls?representing Korea?will spark a football wave across Africa and contribute to sports diplomacy on the continent.”

The “100,000 Soccer Balls for South Sudan” campaign will involve Nassau donating 50,000 balls, with the remaining 50,000 matched by corporate sponsors, NGOs, and individual donors.