Marco Akol Deng
Secretary General, SSAF | Advocate
Marco Akol Deng is a South Sudanese advocate, sports administrator, and community development leader from Aweil in Northern Bahr el Ghazal. He holds an LLB from Alneelin University in Khartoum (2010) and is the founder of Akol for Legal Services, where he provides legal and advisory support across multiple sectors.
As Secretary General of the South Sudan Athletics Federation (SSAF), Marco plays a central role in strengthening athletics structures, nurturing young talent, and expanding the sport across the country. Known for his passion and hands-on leadership, he is widely recognized as one of the driving forces behind South Sudan's growing athletics movement.
Through his work at SSAF, Marco promotes South Sudanese athletes on national and international stages. He champions success stories — such as Loliha's historic African Games medal — as motivation for young athletes and as evidence of South Sudan's rising potential.
Since 2023, Marco has led the rollout of Kids' Athletics programs in Wau, Aweil, Torit, and Rumbek, with expansion plans for Warrap and Yambio by 2026. These initiatives aim to introduce children to athletics, create safe sporting spaces, and build a foundation for long-term talent development.
Marco is a strong advocate for sports investment, frequently using conferences, stakeholder dialogues, and social media to highlight the funding and infrastructure challenges facing sports federations in South Sudan. His advocacy focuses on creating sustainable structures that can support athletes and coaches at all levels.
Career Journey
Key Milestones
Vice President, Electoral Committee — SSFA
Served as Vice President of the Electoral Committee of the South Sudan Football Association (SSFA), overseeing governance and electoral processes within the federation.
LLB — Alneelin University
Graduated with a Bachelor of Laws from Alneelin University in Khartoum, laying the foundation for a career in law and public service.
Founded Akol for Legal Services
Established his own legal and advisory practice, providing counsel across multiple sectors in South Sudan.
Kids' Athletics Rollout
Launched Kids' Athletics programs in Wau, Aweil, Torit, and Rumbek — introducing children to athletics and building grassroots talent pipelines.
Secretary General, SSAF
Appointed Secretary General of the South Sudan Athletics Federation, taking a leading role in national athletics governance and development.
JICA Leadership Program — Japan
Represented South Sudan in the JICA sports leadership and administration program, gaining international exposure in sports governance.
World Athletics Relays — Botswana
Leading preparations for South Sudan's participation in the World Athletics Relays, ensuring the country meets global competition standards.
Event Management
Major Athletics Competitions
Marco is actively involved in organising and elevating South Sudan's flagship athletics competitions, with the goal of shaping them into professional, internationally recognised events.
What Drives the Work
Core Values
Grassroots Development
Building athletics from the ground up — reaching children in Wau, Aweil, Torit, Rumbek, and beyond.
Advocacy & Investment
Championing sustainable funding and infrastructure for South Sudan's sports federations at every level.
International Standards
Preparing South Sudanese athletes to compete and excel on the world stage.
Community Engagement
Promoting active lifestyles and youth participation through initiatives like the Juba Cyclists Club.