The second round of 18th Somali regional qualifying football match opens on Thursday November 20 in Garowe, the provincial capital of the semiautonomous Somali region of Punt land.

 

The regional administration’s deputy president Hassan Dahir Af Qurac, who is a sports-loving man was honored to open the match as he kicked the first ball in the presence of tens of thousands of jubilant spectators and fans who occupied the stadium hours before kick off.

 

As shown in the picture the general secretary of Somali football federation Mr. Abdi Qani Said Arab is standing alongside the deputy president pointing him where to direct his first kicking.

 

During his address at the opening ceremony of the match punt land’s deputy president Mr. Af Qurac thanked Somali football federation for holding such games which he said will help bring about peace and public integration in the war-ravaged nation of Somalia.

 

“I believe that sport particularly the most populous event, the football can be used as an element to wipe out hatred among Somalis and create friendship, fraternity and also love among them” the deputy president added.

 

“I ask the Somali national football federation to usually hold such soccer games” he said once again shaking hands with all players from Nugaal and Sanaag regions which competed in the first game of the 18^th regional Somali football match. The Nugaal region beat its opponent Sanaag 8-2.

 

Somali football federation general secretary Abdi Qani Said Arab who spoke at the opening ceremony for his part said that his federation is currently not able to assemble all Somali regions at a same position so that the country’s regions were divided into 4 zones and from each zone two teams will qualify for the final round which will be held in any Somali town that fills the qualifications of hosting including: security, high quality stadiums and better reservations.

 

“We have already held Zone Two games In Jowhar the provincial capital of Middle shabelle region and we are now holding zone four games in Garowe, Punt land, it was much better to hold in Mogadishu, but unfortunately in Somali capital Some stadiums including the nation’s largest football site Stadium Mogadishu are being used as military bases and Stadium Banadir is under reconstruction, so we have come to decision to hold the games in different cities” the general secretary added.

 

Somali football press department

 

Contact:somalifootballmedia@gmail.com