Somali Football Family is in shock and sadness after a football coach was
killed and two players were wounded in what seems to be accidental gunfire
late on Monday afternoon while they were traveling on a busy road which
witnessed heavy security operations through the day.
Initial reports indicate that soldiers opened fire on the private car in
which the players were traveling after the driver was unable to stop the
car when ordered to do so and as a result they were mistakenly fired
causing heavy human casualties.
Bariga Dhexe Football Club assistant coach, Yusuf Ali Heydar, was killed
in the gunfire, while two of Elman FC’s footballers were seriously
wounded. The two players are Omar Moumin Omar and Abdullahi Mohamed Mayow
and they are currently under operation at the Racep Tayyin Erdogan
hospital in Mogadishu.
The footballers were returning from a short trip to the town of Afgoye
which is about 30 kilometers south of the capital when they accidently
came under fire near Elasha Biyaha district late in the afternoon.
Somali Football federation said it was very sorry for the death and wounds
of football family members. “SFF is sharing the painful experience with
the family of the slain coach. We pray for the quicker recovery of the two
players” SFF statement carried.
“The players were traveling on a private car, not a team bus as some media
outlets reported” Somali Football Federation, said in a statement on
Monday evening.
“The footballers were not targeted, because as a football family we are
not in fight with anyone and this tragedy was accidental. The media should
look for what is accurate and they have to contact the concerned people if
they are unsure of what to report” the SFF statement read.
Somali Football Federation (SFF) called on the federal government of
Somalia to conduct further investigations into the gunfire.
“The two players are suffering from serious wounds. We kindly ask our
government to help get top medical care for the wounded” SFF statement
said.
