New Basketball Stadium to Host Nighttime Somali Competitions Next Month

By Shafi'i Mohyaddin Abokar

It is more than two decades since night-time sports competitions were not held in Somalia due to the violence and prolonged wars in the country.

Today, the minister for youth and sport of the transitional federal government (TFG) of Somalia Mahmoud Jirde Hussein revealed that under-construction 1st July basketball stadium is expected to host night-time competitions next month.

The minister Mahmoud Jirde Hussein delivered the statement during a joint Somali NOC-ministry of sports officials visit to the under construction basketball stadium on Sunday.

"As construction workers told us the construction work is expected to last for two weeks from now. We hope that Somali players will have the chance to exhibit here in the night times by the end of next month," the Minister Mahmoud Jirde Hussein told the media during Sunday's joint visit.

Minister Mahmoud Jirde Hussein said he was very grateful to Somali National Olympic committee and Hormuud Telecom for the great job of rebuilding the stadium. The reconstruction of other fields will follow soon.

"Hormuud Telecom is praiseworthy for financing the reconstruction of this old stadium and we are calling on other big business companies like Nation Link Telecom and the banks of Dahabshiil and Amal to play their role in the redecoration of the country's destroyed sporting facilities," the minister emphasized.

He said since he came to office Somali NOC and the ministry of youth and sport have been partners in the process of the development of Somali sport. He added that his ministry will do all that Somali NOC wants in terms of the promotion of sport in Somalia which is recovering from decades of civil wars and terrorism.

Shafi'i Mohyaddin Abokar is the NewsBlaze Somalia reporter. Contact him through NewsBlaze. Read more stories by Shafi'i Mohyaddin Abokar.