Football tournament after twenty-three years… A remarkable day for Somali people!

On Wednesday, 15 December 2010 hundreds of spectators were taking their seats in the Mire Awale Stadium (in Garowe, the capital city of Puntland, Somalia) to witness the launching ceremony of the Somalia’s football completion. The last match was held before twenty-three years which was in 1987. fifteen regions out of the eighteen regions in the country participated in the competition.

The stadium which is so huge was filled with spectators who were waving the Puntland state’s flag as well as the Somali republic’s flag.

By the time it reached 2:00 PM in the horn of Africa hour, the festival started by letting each one of the fifteen regions participating in the competition to enter the stadium waving the Somali flag and the specific symbol that each region is prominent.

Puntland president Dr. Abdirahman Mohamed Faroole was leading the High ranking Puntland government officials whom were present in the stadium, also representatives from the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia were also present.

The art team of the Puntland stars sang national songs while the drumlines never stopped beating their drums and also singing the Somali national anthem.

Mr. Faroole stated that holding this cup was meant to bring the Somali community closer and to work on the development and restoration of the Somali nation. The president indicated that this was a remarkable day for all Somalis wherever they are.

After the welcoming speech, Puntland President Dr. Faroole headed to the stadium Mire Awale where the ball was placed and kicked it while announcing that the tournament had officially commenced.

Sa’id Mugabe – coordinator of the Somali football committee also presented a short speech, expressing his gratitude and pleasure for the great work done by the Puntland government and its community.

While football teams from the south and central Somali are celebrating with their counterparts in Puntland state and the match is going on, heavy shells are still hitting the houses and public community spaces in Mogadishu and its surrounding cities.

The main question is once the match is over and the football players from the south and central Somali go back to their homes will they be safe out there?!