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It may have gone unnoticed by the crew of the KLM flight from Nairobi
to Amsterdam on Saturday, but they were carrying a very special
passenger. For Abdi Bashir Abdi, a 17 year-old Somali returnee from
Hartishek camp in Ethiopia, the flight marked the culmination of an
extraordinary journey that has taken him from Mogadishu during the
time of Siad Barre, to Hargeisa, Djibouti, Hartishek refugee camp in
Ethiopia in 1991 and finally back to Hargeisa in 1995. In early
2004, Abdi was chosen, along with three other Somali youths, to
attend a Real Madrid football summer-camp between July 18 and August
1, as part of a joint initiative organised by UNDP, UNICEF and the UN
Political Office for Somalia, and sponsored by Rotary, KLM and Real
Madrid.
The story of Abdi both reflects the difficult and uncertain recent
history of Somalia, and provides a poignant reminder of the
determination and potential of its young citizens. Abdi’s family
were originally from Hargeisa, but moved to Mogadishu in the early
1980s seeking employment opportunities. The civil strife of
1988-1991 forced them northwards to Djibouti, and from there, Abdi,
his mother and aunt moved to Hartishek in Ethiopia, whilst his father
sought employment in Yemen. “It was a very difficult time,” commented
Abdi, “and I haven’t seen my father since then.”
The four years abroad in Ethiopia represented a further difficult
period, but one where Abdi first started to nurture his love for
football. “It was hard to be away from home, but I started to play
football about this time.” The four years also brought further
sadness in the death of Abdi’s mother. In 1995, Abdi and his aunt
moved back to Hargeisa.
In many ways, Abdi’s experience upon return provides a snapshot of
the lives of so many young Somalis, both male and female. Since 1995,
Abdi has faced further hardships and struggles, as he lives through
the daily Somali reality, trying to access the most basic of
services. He started school, but soon had to drop out for lack of
the requisite school fee of $5 per month. He stayed with relatives
and took up a cleaning job in their offices, with the promise that he
would be trained as a driver. Eventually however, Abdi’s grandfather
became sick, and he was asked to take care of him fulltime.
Throughout his trials and tribulations, football was a welcome
respite from the troubles of everyday life. “I started playing with
the local team at Sheik Mader, and would look forward to the games
every day.” Upon hearing of the 2004 “Somaliland Peace Cup” Abdi’s
team decided to enter.
The cup was sponsored by UNDP and UNICEF Somalia, as part of the
wider ‘Sports for Peace Programme’. The prize for the four best
youth from all over the country was to take up a two-week summer camp
with the Real Madrid Football Club on a scholarship basis. Abdi’s
two goals in the tournament, strong leadership of his team and
exemplary sportsmanship earned him one of the places.
So having gained this highly prized opportunity, what is he most
looking forward to at the Real Madrid camp, and what does it mean to
him personally?
“I am looking forward to more training, meeting other young people
from around the world, and also the famous players. To me, the
training shows what is possible with peace. Without peace, there
would be no Real Madrid.”
What then, of the role of sport in the rebuilding of his country?
UNSECOORD Somalia reported a decrease in the amount of militia
activity during the month of Euro 2004, as local warlords and militia
laid down their weapons to admire the silky skills of Zidane,
Beckham, Raul and Figo, and the organisation and teamwork of eventual
winners Greece. Could it really be true that sport represents a
potential vehicle for reconciliation and understanding?
“Yes, it is true that everyone wanted to watch Euro 2004, and that
no-one was interested in fighting. Football can unite people. You
can see that with the four of us going to the training camp. Two of
us are from Hargeisa, one from Mogadishu and one from Merca. We did
not know each other before, but now we are friends, we play together,
and we stay together. We hope to keep in touch after the camp.”
Lastly, who is his favourite international player, and why?
“Zinedine Zidane” he interjected, almost before I had finished the
question. “He has an excellent technique, and great skill. Also, he
has a wonderful temperament, a good reputation, and he never swears
or shouts.”
And with that, he was gone, spirited off by a couple of Somali
escorts in a reminder of his new found fame. “We have an interview
with the BBC,” one of them pointed out.
Outside, in the UNDP Somalia car park, the four boys took out a
football and showed off their skills in a scene reminiscent of the
famous NIKE advertisements. It was clear that they would fit in
perfectly amongst the young European aspirants that they would soon
meet. A UNICEF representative standing next to me commented: “when I
see them practising their skills, it really reminds me why they are
here, and that we can communicate through sport.”
It was also a powerful reminder that good things are happening in
Somalia. As a country with some of the worst social indicators in
the world, severe poverty and intermittent conflict, Somalia is often
portrayed in the international media as a ‘basket case’ a ‘failed
state’ or a ‘terrorist haven,’ depictions which can perpetuate a
cycle of under funding, competition over scarce resources and
conflict. The story of Abdi, however, reminds us that there is a new
generation of Somalis coming to the fore, witnesses to a painful
past, important actors in a difficult present, and, with the help of
the international community, potential creators of a better future.
In doing so, they are exercising rights that have hitherto been
denied them, including the right to life, to full development, to
health and education, and to play.
“I want to make the most of the training camp, learn as much as I
can, and bring a message of peace, during my time in Spain and when I
return.”
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