Sunday, March 04, 2012
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Nowadays, sports games are employed by all and sundry in Mogadishu to grace events and harmonise communities, especially the youth.The latest to join the rush for games organisations was Bar Kulan radio, a widely listened 24 hours broadcaster that transmits its programmes from Nairobi, Kenya.
Two female basketball teams, Horseed and Municipio, got ready for a peaceful duel on Thursday, March 1, to compete for a Cup in honour of the second anniversary of the launching of the popular radio that combines some of the most diverse programmes including near incessant music.
Mohamed Ali Ahmed, the Commissioner of Hamar Jabjab district, thanked the management and the Somali Basketball Federation for choosing his area.
“I am delighted by the huge crowd pulled by your event,” remarked DC Ahmed.
In the absence of frequent sniper fires and direct confrontations between the pro-government forces and the fighters of the radical Islamist group, Al-Shabaab, children are visibly gathering in every available space in Mogadishu to play the games they love. Football takes a prominent position as children use every kind of stuff with a round shape that likes as a ball.
Even socks stuffed with toen papers and papers are good enough for the young ones.
Lido beach
Few grown up youths tend to pull their resources together to buy leather made balls for good games. Others are contented with plastic made ‘sphere’ for far less price.
The most dedicated youngsters flock towards Lido, a strip of beach in the northern suburbs of Mogadishu. Thursdays and Fridays are just the favourites as schools close doors for the weekends.
The white sandy beach offers enough space and sea breeze for those willing to flex muscles as they run after rolling things as long as they have round shapes. At least half dozen games are organised by groups of all ages.
Games for senior groups are organised by former sportsmen and Diaspora Somalis, nostalgically visiting the capital. Even politicians have a tendency to have a fun during the weekends, arranging volley ball or football games.
Somalia’s Prime Minister Abdiweli Mohamed Ali, The Defence Minister, Hussein Arab Issa and Ahmed Nur Tarzan, the Mayor of Mogadishu, are among the dedicated Lido Beach enthusiasts and games promoters.
Regular seaside dwellers are keen to say that the ocean waters provide salty liquid that is dubbed to have medical powers for all kinds of illness as well as pleasure for those feeling bored by years of civil strife.
“Come to Mogadishu and join us to have fun at Lido Beach,” recently stated Mogadishu Mayor Tarzan while talking to a group of Diaspora Somalis in Britain after attending a London Conference on Somalia in February.
The national sports federations also seize the moments to organise amateur games. On 28th of February, officials of the National Volley Ball Federations witnessed a friendly game in Mogadishu.
The event took place at ex-Luciolo sports ground in North Mogadishu. Dekadaha and Horseed were the teams chosen to show the public the value of volley ball for the youth’s health as well as contentment for the fans.
Professor Mohamed Ali Addow, The president of the national Volley Ball Federation, praised the move to inculcate peace and integration among the youth.
“We admire the local organizations sparing no efforts in energising the youth towards different sports disciplines,” said Addow while addressing a cheering crowd and attentive officials.
Youth activities
On 23rd of February, 50 youngsters lined up at former Behani Fuel Station, popularly known as AGIP-ka Bexaani’ in North Mogadishu, to partake in a cycling competition. It was the first organised in the Somali capital in two decades of civil war.
Officials from Somali Youth Advocacy Organisation (SYAO), the entity that sponsored the two kilometre-long distance competition, flagged off the event, expressing that the contest was to induce the youth in peace building.
“This competition is part of our initiatives to encourage integration, especially among the youth,” said a SYAO Official.
Mr Abdulkadir Barrow Mohamed, the President of Somali Cycling Federation, praised SYAO officials for renewing the cycling spirit in the capital.
“This is a sign that things are changing in our capital city (Mogadishu),” remarked the president of the cycling federation.
The highly spirited cyclists peddled towards the Ex-Luciolo Sports Ground, despite the afternoon heat. The first, second and third riders to cross the line received money and medals as rewards.
In Mogadishu, the 18 federations that are members of the Somali Olympic Committee appear geared to revive their respective sports disciplines.
Mr Aweys Mohamed Abati, the president of Somalia Karate and Taekwondo Federation told Nation that he was going to organise events for athletes in May this year. “Best performers will be selected for a national team,” said President Aweys Abati, better known as Aweys Orfeo.
The football and basketball federations had organised their respective tournaments in 2011, especially after militants loyal to Al-Shabaab vacated their main positions in Mogadishu in August.
“Despite years without proper games, basketball still attracts entire families,” said Mr. Hassan Ibrahim Ali, the President of the Somali Basketball Federation as he handed the Bar Kulan Radio Anniversary Cup to the girls playing for Horseed Team.
Sporting is still a dangerous exercise in parts of Southern and Central Somalia controlled by Al-Shabaab.
The fanatical militants oppose youth spending time on sports, especially playing football. They say that playing or even watching football deters the youngsters from joining the jihad (holy war).
Prior to the civil war, the Somali Olympic Committee and its sports federations were responsible for the organization of events at district, regional, national and international levels.
Nevertheless, many sports arena that were converted into militia training camps or even into fortified army positions by the warring sides are falling under the control of the sports leaders, promising revitalisation.