The launch of the U-17 football tournament in Somalia is a very positive
step taken towards the right direction and it is part of the Somali Football Federation’s youth development program.

“The main objective for the inauguration of this tournament is to get the
14-16 year olds in the country into a formal football league organized for
them annually.

It also gives the National league clubs the opportunity to produce young talented boys to prepare them for their National league matches in the years to come” Somali FA president, Abdiqani Said Arab,
said in a press statement on Sunday.

The president added that coaches from the SFF technical department were
tasked to hunt young talented players from the competition which recently
came to an end at Stadium Banadir.

The short-listed boys will go under formal training sessions, to prepare
them for representing the country in the near future international U-17
and U-20 football competitions.

The competition which continued between 25 September to 16 October 2015, gathered 8 youth clubs representing: Banadir Sports Club, Dekedda FC, Elman FC,Gaadiidka FC, Heegan FC, Horseed FC, Jeenyo United and Sahafi FC.

Heegan beat their Elman FC rivals in the final match by 5-4 in penalties
after the 90-minute period that it takes to play a football match ended in
1-1 draw.

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