March 12 – International women’s day on March 8 was a landmark occasion in Somalia which saw the first official match ever played by Somali women.
The futsal match was played between the SWF women’s football team, who defeated their rivals SSC 3-1.
Somalia is an Islamic country where the cultural barriers have prevented women from playing official football. Somali parents refused to allow their daughters to play and they believed it was a crime against Somali culture and religion.
The Somali FA has been undertaking months of awareness workshops to change perceptions with some parents now allowed their daughters to play the game.
Head of women’s football in Somalia, Ibtisam Yassin, has been running several months of training and awareness workshops for both parents and girls.
“Our efforts paid off and we will continue organizing the awareness workshops for parents and girls plus the training programs, as this strategy has yielded positive results,” said Yassin.
“I would like to thank the president of Somali Football Federation, Ali Abdi Mohamed, for his continued support and encouragement. The president is more interested in women’s football and we are committed to moving forward.”
Ali Abdi Mohamed attended the match and emphasised that the awareness workshops are part of the FA’s strategy to develop women’s football and overcome cultural barriers .
“Today we have two big occasions, the first one is the commemoration of 8 March and the second one is that Somali girls are officially in the field of play. I am really overjoyed as today my long-standing dreams have become true,” said Ali Abdi Mohamed.
“The futsal match was the start of a series of activities for the girls and young women who have been well involved in training programs for the past several months. Our aim is to see Somali women being fully active in the international football calendar very soon.”
FIFA director for member associations Africa, Gelson Vernandes, congratulated the Somalis, saying: “It is admirable to see such openness and to allow women to play and enjoy this sport. This initiative demonstrates a strong desire to promote gender equality and inclusion in football. Congratulations on this commitment to develop women’s football in Somalia.”
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