It is a great moment in Somalia after years of unending war football is finally becoming the tool of unification and this weekend history will be made in the first ever live match to be transmitted from the war torn East African country.

For the first time in Somalia’s football history, the first football match in the country will be watched live this week.
All arrangements have been made for the final match of the 2015 edition of General Da’ud cup, which will be broadcasted live on the Somali National Television [SNTV].

In the final match, Somali military club [Horseed] will take on their rivals of Somali police Football Club [Heegan FC].

Somali Football Federation president, Abdiqani Said Arab, described the first time live coverage as ‘another great step’ taken forward by the SFF which is now recovering from decades-long unrest and lawlessness.

“It is a breakthrough, we had long dreamed of getting our matches watched lives. This is almost the realisation of our age-old dreams.

“This will be a test, but if we are successful in this endeavour, we will try to get our matches go live in the months to come” president Abdiqani Said Arab, explained.

The president noted that the live coverage will be implemented by the Somali Football federation with the help from the National Television and the facilitation from Horn Connect.

“We express our gratitude to the State Television and the privately-owned Horn Connect for helping our dreams come true.  We hope to develop our cooperation with these two organizations” SFF president, Abdiqani Said
Arab, noted in press statement on Wednesday.

General Da’ud Cup is the second most watched sporting event in Somalia and it is held every year in the remembrance of the founder of Somalia’s Armed Forces, General Da’ud Abdulle Hersi.

The late General Da’ud was born in 1924 in the village of Mareeg South East of the country. He died in 1965, but Somali Football Federation has been organizing the annual football event since 1972.

MATCH DETAILS:

General Da’ud Cup Final: Horseed VS Heegan
Venue: Stadium Banadir. Date: 17 December 2015. Time: 14:45Hours, East Africa Time.
Live: To be broadcasted live on Somali National TV [SNTV].

Collins Okinyo

Ex- CAF Media Expert. An expert on African football with over 15 years experience ,always with an ear to the ground with indepth knowledge of the game. I have worked for top publications including 7 years at www.supersport.com until i founded www.soka25east.com to quench the thirst of football lovers across the continent. I have trained young upcoming journalists who are now a voice in African football.I have covered World Cup,AFCON,CHAN,Champions League,Confederations Cup,Cecafa,Cosafa,Wafu and many other football tournaments across the World. Founder Football Africa Arena(FAA),Founder www.afrisportdigital.com