Monday July 17, 2023
Toronto (HOL) - In a thrilling finish, SEIF FC claimed a hard-fought victory over reigning champions SEIF FC in the 2023 Somali-Canadian Soccer Tournament. The high-profile event, organized by the Today Group, concluded on Sunday in Toronto.
Drawing 18 teams from across Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom, the tournament kicked off on July 7th.
In the 2023 games' final showdown Toronto's own Hilaac FC and Seif FC found themselves locked in a stalemate. No goals were scored during the gruelling 90-minute duration, requiring extra time. This set the stage for a nail-biting penalty shootout, where Hilaac FC fell to Seif FC by a slim margin of 5-4.
The audience was a cross-section of Toronto, including everyday residents and elected officials. Among them were the newly elected mayor of Toronto, Olivia Chow, former MP Faisal Hassan, and several community leaders.
Every year, the TODAY Group, headquartered in Toronto, orchestrates these games on a large scale, attracting a diverse crowd from around the globe. The audience primarily consists of high school students and young adults deeply rooted in the sporting community.
A special celebrity match featuring past Somali soccer stars also unfolded in tandem with the main tournament. This competition fielded four teams, representing Boston, Washington DC, Toronto, and London. Notable teams, like the Old Boys and the Heavy Youth, participated. This year, the Washington team, guided by their captain Abukar Shaash, clinched the trophy dedicated to Saadaq Siraaj, a pioneering figure of Somali Week Toronto. The exciting side event took place last Saturday.
In a statement following the tournament, Hussein Hagi, one of the leaders of the TODAY Group, expressed his enthusiasm, saying, "We're happy with the turnout this year. It's been one of our best tournaments in a while. We want to keep this momentum going and get even bigger, but we need the next generation to step up and help make that happen. This isn't just a game, it's a tradition, and we hope it sticks around as a main local event for years to come."