A zealot follower of the Somali squad urges the populace to “construct connections rather than barriers”.
Yusuf Yassin, co-manager of this year’s Somali squad in the World in One City Football contest with Fuad Mohamed.
Now in its fourth iteration, the tournament started by Imad Ali from Toxteth has generated as much hype as a top-tier English Premier League match, possibly even more. Yusuf has sparked enthusiasm around the Yemen team, inspiring them to mimic the “fierce” support of the Somali squad.
Yusuf shared with the Liverpool ECHO, “Everyone wants to be like us. Even neutral fans show up just for our crowd.
“There are other fantastic fans too, like Congo, but we stand out because it’s genuine. Our chants can sometimes be a bit cheeky, but that’s football, always trying to find an edge, have some fun, nothing wrong with that.”
The Somali team is set to face the 2022 champs, England, on June 19. Both Somali and England squads have four points each, while Congo is at two points. If Congo triumphs, the Somali squad must win since a draw would eliminate them on goal difference favoring England.
Congo plays early on June 19. Should they win, it sets the stage for a thrilling encounter between the Somali team and England.
Somali fans cheer as they contest the eventual 2023 champions, the West Indies, in the semi-finals (Image: Liverpool ECHO)
Yusuf declared, “It will feel like a home game for us; our fans will be on fire. I believe we’ll win and top the group. I’m confident our fans will make a difference. It’s a must-win match.”
“Post-game chats with players often end in laughs about how ferocious our fans are, really putting off the opponents.
“We’re notorious for it. Comments from others reinforce that we’ve got to keep it up. Hopefully, tomorrow will be one of those memorable days.”
Yusuf continues, “Some folks are amazed by our energy. They end up watching us instead of the game.”
He believes neutral fans favor them, saying, “I don’t know why, but I think we resonate with people because we’re enjoyable and show unwavering support for our team. Even when we’re behind, our fans keep chanting, persistently, no matter what.”
The Somali fans regularly chant, “We’re Somali, we do what we want, we do what we want, we do what we want. We’re Somali. We do what we want.”
In 2023, they reached the semi-finals. Yusuf reflected, “The highlight was the first year (2021) at Tiber when we equalized against Yemen. They led one-nil, then Ahmed Shirrah tied it with a header just before the end, in the quarter-final.
“If you could bottle that moment’s energy, it was unreal, as everyone chased after him, even neutral fans. If I had to single out one significant goal from our four years, that’s the one.” They lost that match on penalties.
Somali Team superfan and co-manager Yusuf Yassin orchestrates his team (Image: Orrell Jones WIOC)
Yusuf managed the team in 2021 and 2022, was a fan in 2023, and is back as co-manager, noting he has experienced it “from both sides.”
He’s pleased with the tournament’s growth, saying it allows managers to focus on the game without off-field distractions like organizing kits. He lauded the event for “bringing people and nations together.”
He emphasized, “Everyone wants to win, but in the end, you shake hands and have something to talk about. Imagine if this wasn’t here; people wouldn’t have this spectacle. It’s excellent for our area, for everyone, welcoming all, evident in the diversity of the Rest of the World Team.”
“As the Somali community, outsiders sometimes perceive us as secluded, but that’s not true. We’ve been a part of Toxteth and South End for nearly a century, integral to the city along with others.”
“They say that about West African, Caribbean, or Arab communities, calling them hard to reach. That’s not the case; they just don’t know how to communicate with us.”
“This event proves we’re here to build bridges, not walls. Get to know us; we’re alright.”
Somali Team vs Congo in action in WIOC 2024 (Image: Nashwan Jaffer WIOC)
