MOGADISHU ( Halbeeg News) – Somalia held first boxing tournament since 1978 when the last tournament took place.
Due to insecurity and rebellion that emerge shortly after the end of Somalia-Ethiopia war, many trainers and boxing players moved out of the country.
Tournament which took place in Somalia has attracted the eyes of many locals including young people who witnessed the match in their country for the first time.
Awil Gelle Ahmed, Second Vice President of the Somali Boxing Federation has welcomed the move and said that the federation will increase training for the potential boxers.
“The reasons we are organizing this boxing tournament after 40 years may include the fact that the country’s situation is better, whether in terms of security or politics, we think there is a real change’‘ he said.
Somali boxer, Kashmir Abdirahim Abdalla has termed the move as new dawn for the players saying it attracts many new players.
“I love boxing so much and my coach made me fall in love with this sport to be a well-known boxer” Kashmir said.
The spectators said the contest is a sign of good things to come.
“Today, I am very happy with this tournament, something we have been missing for many years, and we hope the tournament will produce more boxers’‘, said Mohamed Ahmed Abdullahi a spectator.
Two months ago, a Somali born Ramla Ali represented her native Somalia in the International Boxing Association Women’s Boxing World Championships, becoming the first boxer to do so.
Many years ago, Ali’s family fled Mogadishu after her brother died due to a grenade explosion outside their house.
The family sought asylum in England after a first stop to Kenya on a rickety cramp boat, according to firstpost.com.
Discussion about this post