Monday, December 17, 2012
The Somali Football Federation (SFF) celebrated on Friday (December 14th) the conclusion of a local league season unmarred by violence, Somalia's Radio Risaala reported.
"This year was totally different from past years, because we finished our competitions peacefully, while previously we suffered from fierce battles that sometimes halted the tournaments or caused casualties among our fans, players or journalists covering the event," said SFF Secretary Abdi Qani Said Arab. "But this year we say thank you Allah because we finished all three local leagues with no human casualties during the matches."
Al-Shabaab has banned football and other sports in territory under its control and has been blamed for attacks on football matches.
The winning teams from SFF divisions B and C were each awarded 40,000,000 shillings ($24,829) in cash prizes at a ceremony in Mogadishu.
SFF President Ali Said Guled Roble praised the progress made by coaches and players in their unusually productive year.