By Paul Nicholson
December 16 – Somalian football took another major symbolic step forward this weekend with a Super Cup final that was packed with passion, historic significance, a penalty shootout, and hope for the future in front of a packed crowd at the recently refurbished Banadir Stadium in Mogadishu.
In front of a packed house (the actual attendance is not but is described as tens of thousands) Jeenyo United, a club that was only reformed in 2012, triumphed 5-4 on penalties against Benadir Sport Club in the Hormuud Telecom sponsored match. The match had ended extra time tied at 2-2.
The Super Cup is played between the winners of the league (Banadir Sports Club) and the winners of General Da’ud cup (Jeenyo United).
Somali Football Federation president Abdiqani Said Arab thanked Hormuud Telecom for taking the decision to sponsor and support football in the country.
“Football is now booming in Somalia and it gives me a great pleasure to see Hormuud Telecom having full involvement in football and on the behalf of Somali Football Federation I am fully lauding for such constructive decision by Hormuud Telecom,” he said.
“I also would like to welcome the Coca-Cola branch in Somalia and the Salam Bank for joining hands with us in the promotion of football in Somalia,” he continued.
Jeenyo United FC was one of Somalia’s oldest football clubs, founded in 1948 but disbanded in the aftermath of the collapse of Somalia in 1991, the club was revived in March 2012, several weeks before the death of former Somali FA president Said Mahmoud Nur, who had welcomed the old club back after more than two decades of absence.
Since then the club’s progress has been dramatic, regaining entry to the top flight of Somali football this year and winning the General Da’ud Cup.
Banadir Sports Club, playing at their stadium that has benefited from the investment of FIFA Goal money, did have something to cheer. Young player Ga’al Farah named man of the match.
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