March 29, 2016 – COLUMBUS — Thousands of Somalis are in Central Ohio for the 16th annual Columbus Indoor Soccer Cup. The tournament runs through Sunday at Star Indoor Sports on Busch Boulevard and is free and open to the public.
Organizers said they want to celebrate unity in the Somali community. Columbus has more than 50,000 Somali residents and is the second largest in the United States.
Tournament organizer Bashir Gelle said they want to keep young men focused on good so they don’t become vulnerable to extremist groups that could seek to radicalize them. “Diversity, unity, a peace loving community , it says a lot of of things as you know sports are all about unity. This is one of the best things to you can use to make young people so they don’t end up in the wrong way,” said Gelle.
The tournament is funded by sponsors and donors.
Fuad Ali said it is good to have players from as far as Dallas, Minneapolis, Canada and Maine. “It brings the community together and we want to keep the kids out of the streets, and have them something they can belong to and be proud of. We want to tell them be proud of your culture but use your common sense this is a country that gives us a place to belong to and raise our kids,” said Ali. “We don’t want them to be vulnerable, we want them to be aware of everything.”
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Xafiiska Wararka Qaranimo Online | Mogadishu, Somalia
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