This archive report was first published on 22 December 2019.
On Saturday, Kenya's Sindo United football club made history by becoming the first foreign team to play in Somaliland, a country not recognized internationally. The match was played at the Hargeisa National Stadium in front of a large crowd of enthusiastic Somalilanders.
Despite their efforts, Sindo United ultimately fell to a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Somaliland's Hargeisa Municipality side, who are considered the best team in the country. The lone goal for Sindo United was scored by AbdulWahab Mujahid.
The friendly match was organized by the Somaliland embassy in Nairobi alongside Sindo United's sponsors, The Jefferson Group. The event marked a significant moment for Kenya and Somaliland youth to build ties through sports, as stated by Bashe Omar Awil, the Somaliland ambassador to Kenya.
“Today was a historic day for Kenya and Somaliland. It’s a great moment for Kenya and Somaliland youth to build ties through sports,” Bashe Omar Awil, the Somaliland ambassador to Kenya said.
“This football friendly is the first of many to come. We are working in a sports tourism strategy,” he added.
As Somaliland has no football league, they annually hold tournaments sponsored by local corporates. The country separated from Somalia in 1990 when the war broke out in the latter and has since declared its independence, but remains unrecognized internationally.
“This friendly has opened our eyes. We will work towards building a national team from this,” Somaliland sports minister Boos Mire said.
