This archive report was first published on 21 December 2019.
On Saturday, Kenya's lower division side Sindo United will make history by taking on Somaliland's national football team at the Hargeisa National Stadium, a venue that has not hosted an international friendly in over three decades.
The match is a result of an invitation extended by the Somaliland Ministry of Sports, courtesy of the country's embassy in Nairobi, as part of its campaign for international recognition.
Coached by former Kenya international Bonface Ambani, Sindo United arrived in Hargeisa on Friday morning to a red carpet welcome by officials of the Somaliland sports ministry, led by Sports Minister Boos Mire.
According to Mire, the game is a significant milestone for Somaliland, marking the first time the country has welcomed a foreign football team.
For Sindo United, the match is an opportunity to build a lasting relationship between the two nations, as stated by coach Ambani.
"This should be the first step towards building strong sporting relations between Somaliland and the rest of Africa," Ambani said.
