In a surprising twist that’s been the talk of the town, the Puntland State of Somalia decided to take back its contentious ban that stopped women from cheering in the stands at football games. Word got around on Monday, thanks to a tip-off from the bigwigs up in Garowe, and boy, did it create a buzz.
Initially, the move to kick women off the bleachers came from Minister Hodan Said Hassan. Now, from what I hear, she was mighty concerned about some ruckus that erupted during a face-off between Mudug and Nugal—notorious for creating quite the hullabaloo. “We are at our wits’ end trying to manage the situation caused by female fans,” Minister Hodan lamented at a briefing on Sunday. Her drastic suggestion: women should just stay home and catch the game on the telly.
That ruling wasn’t exactly received with open arms. Nah, it spurred folks to speak up and stand strong against what they saw as a backward, Taliban-esque decree. “The backlash was fierce and fast,” reports Mohamed Hassan, a prominent online voice from Puntland. And it wasn’t just the rabble-rousers on social media; shout-outs came from unlikely allies. Former Minister of Health, Dr. Fawziya Abikar, threw in her two cents, calling the whole thing unjust and a massive cop-out for security enforcement.
The pressure must have been sizzling because by Monday, Abdirahman Haji Abshir—the governor who’s got his thumb on the pulse of Garowe—spoke up to hell-ban the ban. He made it crystal clear: Women have every right to be there, cheering and jeering like their male counterparts, free of blame for any scuffles.
Even Minister Hodan came around during another media huddle, voicing the official U-turn with a nod from the President of Puntland himself. “Women shall attend, and that’s that,” she proclaimed, somewhat begrudgingly. The Deputy Police Commissioner, Brigadier General Aidid Ahmed Nur, jumped in as well, putting out a stern warning against any tomfoolery or tribal tensions that might set off another round of brawling.
So, here’s a little context, if you aren’t already glued to the action in Puntland: They’ve been hosting a rip-roaring regional football extravaganza since December 10th, and it’s been a spectacle. Teams from nine regions bring an enormous spark to the competition, with fans sometimes letting their excitement spill over into unruliness.
The final showdown’s slated for Tuesday, and it’s a biggie with Nugal up against Bari. Nugal goes in with a spring in their step, having clinched a narrow 3-2 victory over Mudug last Friday, a face-off that wasn’t just about skills but also had some scrappy undertones of clan rivalry. Ain’t that the beauty and the beast of sports: thrilling yet combustible?
Officials are doubling down on security for this climactic clash, making sure everyone’s there for the love of the game rather than lingering grudges. Let’s hope for a spirited yet peaceful Tuesday match that celebrates diversity and unity, with every fan, regardless of gender, cheering at the top of their lungs. Here’s to football, a field of dreams and drama!
Edited by: Ali Musa
alimusa@axadletimes.com
Axadle international–Monitoring
