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Sports fans are gradually returning to stadiums in Mogadishu as security improvements have encouraged the Somali Football Federation and the Somali Olympic Committee to resume sporting events.

To kick off the 37th edition of the Somali Premier League Championship for professional clubs, Elman and Badbaado faced off on Monday (June 4th) at University Stadium in Mogadishu. Elman won the match 3-to-1.

Organisers of the championship said deteriorating security conditions in the past put the Premier League and General Dawood Cup on hold for a period of time.

"The fact that the league championships are back is an indication of improved security in Mogadishu," the Premier League organisers said.

On many occasions, championships and sporting events were cancelled due to instability and an inadequate security situation.

Before al-Shabaab was expelled from the capital in August 2001, the movement turned some stadiums in areas under its control into military bases and banned sporting competitions, which they deemed to be un-Islamic and of no benefit to society.

"Organising sporting events and activities, including the Premier League Championship, is a contributing factor towards strengthening social integration in Mogadishu and demonstrating that there is again a sense of normalcy in the city," said Abdighani Said Arab, secretary general of the Somali Football Federation. "Football has survived against all odds."

"As peace and stability slowly return to all corners of Somalia, the Somali Football Federation pledges to organise more sporting events throughout the country, even in the smallest village, because football reinforces social integration and cohesion," he told Sabahi.

Sports prevail over setbacks

In February, a bomb exploded at Minishipio Stadium in Wardhigley district in central Mogadishu during a final football match of a local championship, killing five young football fans and injuring several people.

The championship was part of a Municipality of Mogadishu awareness campaign to strengthen social integration and unity in the city. Although no group claimed responsibility for the explosion, the Somali government blames al-Shabaab for the attack.

In April, a suicide attack targeting the National Theatre in Mogadishu killed Somali Football Federation President Said Mohamed Nur and Somali Olympic Committee Chairman Aadan Haji Yabarow Wiish. Sports officials said the deaths of the two men were a painful blow to the sporting community due to their tireless efforts supporting and developing sports and football in Somalia.

"Although the Somali sports community lost two of its greatest sports leaders in the country in the painful attack that rocked the National Theatre in April, the Somali Football Federation and the Olympic Committee have renewed their pledge to continue efforts to develop sports and resume sporting events in the country," said Shafii Muhudiin, media representative for the Somali Football Federation.

8 teams compete in Premier League championship

Eight teams from the Premier League will compete for the title this season, Muhudiin said.

Among the clubs competing for this season's title, four have recently been re-established after several years of inactivity. Among those clubs are the veteran Jeenyo Club, Daalo Club, Heegan Police, Mogadishu Port, Banaadir Club and the Army's Horseed Club.

Fans of Jeenyo, which tied 1-1 against Daalo in their match on Tuesday, expressed their joy for the return of the once-famous and long-standing club.

"As football lovers, especially Jeenyo fans, we are very happy that one of the leading football clubs in the country is back," Aadan Hussein, 46, told Sabahi.

He said the revival of a team as strong as Jeenyo may give a boost to the national team. "Jeenyo was a strong team and had the largest fan base, compared with other football clubs in the country at the time. I hope it can reclaim its position," Hussein said.

Signs of a safer Mogadishu

"The fact that sporting events are once again taking place in Mogadishu can only mean that security is improving," said Mohammed Ahmed, a sports analyst and writer.

"Such events were rare during the past few years, and al-Shabaab extremists in Mogadishu made it impossible for such sporting competitions to take place," he told Sabahi.

In another sign of the improved security situation, hundreds of men, women and children have been flocking to the beaches of Mogadishu, especially Lido Beach, to play football in the sand or to swim and enjoy the scenery of the Indian Ocean.

"During the past few years, I never thought of coming here, as Islamist radicals forbade women from frequenting public places, sports, beaches and swimming," Shamso Mohamud, a 28-year old resident of Mogadishu told Sabahi.

"As the security situation in the city has improved during the past couple of months, we are now able to come to Lido Beach on the weekends," she said. "People feel happy and safe when they come here."