Mogadishu (AX) — In an exhilarating stride toward bolstering the nation’s football prowess, Somalia has unveiled its inaugural Youth Football Development Center in Baidoa this week. This initiative underscores a momentous chapter in the country’s grassroots infrastructure, a dream long nurtured by the Somali Football Federation (SFF). Can this be the dawn of a new era for Somali football, one wonders?
Baidoa, nestled 246 kilometers southwest of Mogadishu, has become the canvas for this ambitious football project. Here, players, ranging from under-9 to under-16, are set to embark on a journey that marries structured football education with formal schooling. One might ask why Baidoa was chosen as the vanguard of this noble endeavor. The answer lies in the myriad stories of talent waiting to be told.
“To sculpt competitive footballers, investment in youth is crucial,” declared SFF President Ali Abdi Mohamed at the inauguration ceremony, his eyes alight with hope. “This center extends beyond mere football; it’s about molding holistic individuals equipped for the rigors of life.” These words echo the collective ambition of many who dream of nurturing a new generation of football players with the same vigor and passion as some of the world’s elite academies.
Springboarding from Baidoa’s blueprint, the SFF envisions a network of academies sprawling across the federal member states, with each locale serving as a cog in the nation’s football development project. Yet, what transforms a promising player into a professional? Well, the SFF proposes the answer lies in qualified coaching.
Ahmed Ali Hassan, the astute chairman of the South West State Football Association, espouses this philosophy. “The foundation of exquisite football is entrenched in skilled coaching,” he noted at the launch of a CAF License D coaching course aimed at training 30 young coaches. An intricate lattice of competent coaches is essential to mentor the burgeoning talent distributed across the regions.
Yet, football extends beyond merely nurturing young talent. A riveting subplot in this unfolding drama is the concerted effort to reconcile leadership. In a laudable act of diplomacy, Mohamed appointed his erstwhile election adversary, Wiish Yabarow, to helm the SFF Referee Committee.
Yabarow, an accomplished erstwhile international referee, embarks on this journey with a distinctive story. In 2022, he resigned his post to challenge Mohamed for the SFF presidency, a battle culminating in legal pursuit at the Court of Arbitration for Sport, where they say football’s grand narratives unfold off the pitch. Although his appeal was unsuccessful, his return heralds unity within the corridors of power governing Somali football.
Somali Football Federation (SFF) President Ali Abdi Mohamed (R) shakes hands with newly appointed Referees Committee Chairman Wiish Yabarow (L), signaling a pivot towards harmony and leadership stability within Somali football ranks.
“The pitch bristles with competition, yet it demands respect and collaboration,” Mohamed remarked, eloquently capturing the spirit of both sporting and administrative teamwork. “In the thrall of the 90-minute contest, rivalry flourishes, but camaraderie must prevail beyond it.” Such are the words echoing the sentiments of many who envision Somali football transcending internal rifts.
Yabarow’s tactical experience is set to add luster to Somalia’s refereeing system, an area long beleaguered by inconsistency. His appointment could very well usher in an epoch of reform and structure, enhancing the credibility of Somali football nationwide.
While the academies lay their foundational stones, the Somali U-17 national team is making its own significant strides on the international stage. Basking in their qualification, the Ocean Stars are poised for the TotalEnergies CAF Under-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), slated from March 30 to April 19 in Morocco. Their stellar performance, securing third in the CECAFA U-17 Zonal Qualifiers, manifests aspirations transcending borders.
The horizon gleams with the possibility of another monumental feat: qualifying for the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar, where history beckons as a record 10 African teams vie from November 5-27, 2025. Could this be the crescendo that heralds Somalia’s emergence on the grand football stage?
Indeed, challenges remain abundant. Years marked by turmoil and infrastructural voids have been relentless adversaries. Yet, through a meticulously structured approach to youth development coupled with governance reform, the SFF appears poised to lay a robust foundation for a dynamic, competitive football ecosystem. Who would have imagined that, in times of adversity, Somali football’s redemption could be captured in the innocent dreams of our youth?
Edited by Ali Musa
Axadle Times International–Monitoring
