EDITORIAL

Incentives For Sports Promotion

When the contests between the country’s regional squads for soccer, basketball and other athletics finally got underway in Hargeisa two weeks ago, Somalilanders followed the games with keen interest. Irrespective of their sex or age group, most people reacted to the games with enthusiasm and excitement.
Interest in the games was nation-wide, as indicated by the thousands of supporters who flocked to the capital from the regions in the lead up to the tournament’s opening on September 21, in order to beef up the morale of their respective teams.

News about the various sports events dominated conversations between ordinary Somalilanders for the last two weeks. Apart from those who daily packed the only two available Stadiums, the rest had to rely on the country’s national newspapers for the latest information.

The Ministry of sports should be given credit for organizing the games and bringing them to a successful end against big odds. That the tournament took place at all is miracle. But the real heroes of the tournament were the players, who despite being called on a short notice, had accepted to participate in the games. Certainly, the fans also deserve to be commended for being peaceful and orderly. Not everything went well though. There were strong accusations form the Awdal football team that a 2:2 draw between Sanag and Sahel was a fix to disqualify it from reaching the semifinal stage. Regrettably, the Awdal basketball team, considered until then as the most likely winner of the trophy, withdrew from the tournament, apparently, as a gesture of solidarity with their region’s soccer team.

The games were also another reminder of the great constraints that must be addressed before Somaliland could make any meaningful progress in sports. One of the biggest problems is the lack of public facilities where people could practice their favorite sports. This is a country, where it is still very rare for school children, to find space, where they could play soccer. Basic materials such as balls, sports clothes, shoes and other athletic necessities are either too expensive, or seldom found in the market. A solution for this dilemma must be sought. Perhaps a new way of thinking is needed.

For instance, the role of the Ministry of Sports should be reviewed, so that it would become a facilitator rather than an owner and controller. The Ministry of Sports should also withdraw its opposition to the establishment of the country’s first National Olympic Committee by the sports community. It is only through these kinds of structures that links with regional, as well international bodies, can be developed.

Other measures the government could take to help sports:

1- Reclaim old sports centers and make them available to sports organizations.

2- Tax reductions on sports goods.

3- Incentives for local and foreign investors in the sports sector.
 

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