The Al qaeda-linked Al shabab militants in Somalia have ordered the closure of the Waamo football stadium in the key port town of Kismayo, about 500 kilometers south of the capital, soccer fans in the city confirmed Wednesday.A retired Somali football player in Kismayo who demanded anonymity because of security reasons told APA by telephone that Al shabab militants ordered them over the weekend to close the stadium, accusing them of misguiding young boys from the “right path.”“We have no other option but to close the stadium, because if we defy to their orders that may endanger us,” the former football player who now works as regional youth coach for Somali football federation stated.The militants argued that football descended from the old Christian culture and hence soccer facilities must be closed and instead young boys must take part in Jihad and defend Islam.A mother in the city who confined her name only to Aisha for security reasons said she is afraid that her three sons may take up guns if there is no any football stadiums.“I used to send my sons to the stadium in every afternoon for entertainment, but today they have no where to go and I must take them to the refugee camps in neighboring Kenya or other wise I am afraid they will join the shababs” stated Aisha, a mother of seven including three teenage boys.Militants banned playing football in many regions under their control saying that football is a satanic act which must be phased out from entire regions of Somalia.They also banned listening to music and songs, as radio stations were also ordered not play songs, saying that Islam doesn’t allow.
Source African Press Agency
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