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 the Somaliland national football team at the Hargeisa National Stadium, a venue that has not hosted an international friendly in three decades.
The match is part of Somaliland's campaign for international recognition, with the country's embassy in Nairobi extending an invitation to Sindo United, sponsored by The Jefferson Group.
Upon arrival in Hargeisa on Friday, the Kenyan team was welcomed with a red carpet ceremony by officials from the Somaliland sports ministry, including Sports Minister Boos Mire, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Liban Gahnug, and Director of Civil Service Commission Hamse Suldan.
According to Sports Minister Boos Mire, 'This is a special game for us. It is the first ever time we are welcoming a foreign football team here and it means a lot to Somaliland.'
Coach Boniface Ambani, a former Kenya international, emphasized that the game is not about winning, but about building relations between Kenya and Somaliland.
With Somaliland unrecognized internationally, Sindo United's visit is seen as a significant step towards promoting the country's sporting relations with the rest of Africa.
The friendly match kicks off at 3pm on Saturday.
