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IRIN

Nairobi — Holding a football tournament with teams from 15 regions of Somalia is an achievement in itself - but the organizers hope it will do more than only bring players together.

"The footballers taking part in the tournament have never known a unified Somalia; this is an opportunity for them to interact," Abdirashid Hassan Baki, the deputy president of Somalia's Football Federation (SFF), said. "We hope the tournament will also boost peace and reconciliation in our country."

Somalia has been embroiled in conflict since 1990, with more than 1.4 million displaced and 600,000 refugees in neighbouring countries. The UN estimates more than two million Somalis need humanitarian assistance.

"The fact that we are even holding this football tournament for the first time since 1987 is in itself an achievement. This, to me, is a miracle and a beginning for peace and reconciliation. This is sport at its best. It reminds me of the 'ping-pong' between China and the US [when the US and China started their rapprochement under Richard Nixon]."

At least 290 young Somali football players are taking part in the 20-day tournament, which opened on 15 December in Garowe, capital of the autonomous region of Puntland. It is jointly organized by Puntland, northeastern Somalia and the SFF for Somali youths from 15 of Somalia's original 18 regions.

Somalia has, over the years, split into three distinct areas. What was the northern region of Somalia is now the self-declared republic of Somaliland, the northeastern regions are now the autonomous regions of Puntland and the south and central are controlled by the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) and large parts of it by Islamist Al-Shabab and Hisbul Islam groups.

Baki said many of the players came from regions controlled by different groups "but they all allowed them to come and participate".

Emotional opening

Abdisamad Sheikh Hamud, a footballer representing Nugal region of Puntland, told IRIN the tournament's opening ceremony was very emotional for many players.

"There were a lot of people crying, mostly the older people who could remember [a unified] Somalia," Hamud said. "It is the first time for the majority of us to attend anything that brought Somalis together. We all felt like true Somalis. No clans or regions."

It is the first time for the majority of us to attend anything that brought Somalis together. We all felt like true Somalis. No clans or regions

Hamud said the tournament was an opportunity "to meet young people like us from across Somalia, who we may never have met otherwise. I hope to make lifelong friends."

Twenty Ten / Africa Media Online

Organizers hope the tournament will help build unity since ...

Ahmed Egal Awale, the Puntland deputy minister of sports, said most of the tournament's participants were born after the collapse of the Somali state in 1991. "It is their first experience of an all-Somali affair. Today in Garowe you will see youth from Mogadishu or Baidao, with others from Nugal or Sool. I don't think they ever thought they would get such an opportunity.

"I have no doubt that this will contribute to peace and reconciliation in our country. It is bringing us together. It is a wonderful feeling."

Baki of the SFF said many of the youth from south and central Somalia were for the first time playing football without being afraid of shells or bullets - "a new thing for many".