20101218
Garowe Online

The first national sports tournament held inside Somalia in 23 years opened in the northern stable state of Puntland on Wednesday, Radio Garowe reports.

The football tournament is between teams representing 15 regions, including five regions within Puntland.

The team regions are as follows: Bari (Bossaso), Nugaal, Sool, Sanaag, Mudug (Galkayo), Galgadud, Hiraan (Beledweyne), Bay (Baidoa), Bakool, Gedo, Lower Shabelle (Marka), Middle Shabelle (Jowhar), Banadir (Mogadishu), Middle Jubba, and Lower Jubba (Kismayo).

Crowds welcome Puntland leader at Garowe airport on Dec. 15

Out of Somalia's pre-1991 administrative regions which were 18 in number, only three regions (Togdher [Burao], Northwest [Hargeisa] and Awdal [Borame]) did not participate because of internal pressure by Somaliland's separatist government.

There were reports that a team from Gabiley, near Somaliland capital of Hargeisa, attempted to sneak out of Somaliland to attend the football tournament in Puntland, but were seized by Somaliland police, according to football sources.

The tournament is being organized by Somali Football Federation and hosted by the government of Puntland through its various institutions, including Ministry of Labor and Sports, Garowe municipal council and Nugal regional administration.

The president of Puntland government attended the opening ceremony in Garowe, the capital of Puntland.

Dr. Abdirahman Mohamed Mohamud (Farole) returned from a weeks-long overseas trip to Kenya, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates on Wednesday. Later that same afternoon, President Farole gave the opening address to a 15,000-strong crowd that cheered on their respective teams.

The event opened with a recitation of Qur'an verses, followed by a series of poems, songs, and speeches. The 15 uniformed teams walked across the field waving to chanting crowds, as musical bands played trumpets and other instruments in the backgrounds.

Puntland officials including the Minister of Labor and Sports offered speeches and finally President Farole to the microphone.

"I am very happy to be here today to attend this historic tournament. This event is all about bringing together the Somali people to strengthen social interactions," Puntland's leader said, adding: "It's about youth interacting with youth, women interacting with women, and elders interacting with elders."

President Farole's speech was devoid of any political messaging and he repeatedly stressed the need for the Somali people to forgive each other and to interact for the common interests of peace, justice and progress.

The first match was between the host region of Nugal region vs. and Lower Shabelle region, with Nugal region defeating their opponents 1 to 0.

Mire Aware Stadium in Garowe has been filled to capacity each match, with hundreds of people more lining up outside seeking tickets.

Each day, there are two matches held until the different groups eliminate each other in the build up to the finals. There is much excitement in Garowe as hundreds of supporters pour into the city each day to support their teams.

On Friday, Middle Shabelle region defeated Bakool region 3 to 1 goals.

On Saturday, there was an exciting match between Lower Jubba and Bay regions, which ended in a 3-3 tie.

Somalia's last national government collapsed in 1991, when the country underwent tremendous socio-economic and political changes. Puntland, located in the country's northeast, has been relatively stable and free of the conflict-ridden south, where insurgents are attempting to overthrow the country's weak Western-backed TFG administration in Mogadishu.

Many Somalis hope that the sports tournement will bring back the euphoria of brotherhood and nationhood, and the people of Puntland have expressed their desire to bring the Somali people together.

Somali media organizations, including Universal TV, have broadcasted the sports to Somali households in all corners of the country, East Africa region and around the world.