Elman Wins Somali Football Champion League

By Shafi'i Mohyaddin Abokar

With three matches yet to play before the end of the championship, Elman Football club won the Somalia's 2010-2011 first division soccer championship, the biggest event that Somali Football Federation holds.

The Thursday's match between Elman and Banaadir Telecom was one of the hottest matches since the championship started in the capital late last year which ended in 1-1 draw, but that was also a golden chance for Elman who needed only one point to win the trophy.

Banaadir was committed to winning for the team wanted to winso the 3rd place of the championship. Elman had two chances whether the team could be the champion with a win or draw.

Before that match kicked off, the president of Somali Football Federation Said Mahmoud Nur who addressed both teams urged them to show fair play

"You see that thousands of fans have occupied the stadium hours before the match kicks off, so we want you to come with good play and sportsmanship," the SFF president told both teams.

In the early minutes of the match, both teams launched consecutive attacks on each other's goals. Elman's Sa'ad Saleh Hussein scored the lone goal for his team. As soon as the ball went into Banaadir's net, thousands of fans stood to celebrate for the victorious goal.

The first half of the match ended in 1-0 with Elman boys took the lead. In the 66th minute of the second half, Banaadir Telecom's Nune Abdi Abti Doon put into Elman's goal from a free kick that rocked Elman's net.

This goal changed the atmosphere of the whole stadium, as fans of SITT were also supporting Banaadir. They wanted Elman to be beaten so that SITT may compete for the trophy if it wins today's match against Heegan. Elman went home victorious with the trophy.

Somali NOC president Aden Hajji Yeberow, NOC first vice president and head of International relations Duran Ahmed Farah, SFF president Said Mahmoud Nur and his deputy Ali Said Guled jointly awarded the Jubilant Elman players.

"Today, we are here to award the winning team. This event gives the world a very clear signal about the huge job that Somali NOC and its member federations are doing in the country. This sends a message that the continuing unrest is not deterring us from going forward," the Somali NOC president said praising the SFF for the consecutive activities.

Elman FC and senior National team captain Yasin Ali Egal was presented the trophy which was the largest and the most beautiful trophy ever seen in Somalia.

"This is the award of what you have been struggling for the past several months, I hope you will sleep with pleasure and thrill to night," The Somali Football Federation president said as he was presenting the cup to the captain.

SFF president said that next month a very large ceremony will be held in the capital where thousands of dollars will be presented to the three top teams of the competition. Elman's striker Abdi Aziz Mohamed Ali will be awarded as the top goal scorer.

Under the leadership of the youngest coach in Somalia, Yusuf Ali Nur Elman was given the chance to represent Somalia in this year's CECAFA Kagame Club champion which will kick off in Khartoum in June 21st this year.

This was the second major and historical success in less than 5 months for Somali Football Federation which held the regional soccer tournament in December last year. Despite armed confrontations in the country, the event was the first of its kind ever held in Somalia. Youths from 15 regions were assembled while only 8 regions used to take part in the regional event before the collapse of Somalia in 1991.

Shafi'i Mohyaddin Abokar is the NewsBlaze Somalia reporter. Contact him through NewsBlaze.