Somalia: Soccer in Puntland, Somalia - Giving Kids a Chance

29 December 2015

There are a lot of soccer fans in the semi-autonomous state of Puntland, Somalia. Now, fitness centers are getting kids off of the streets and giving them a safe place to play the game.

When the floodlights go on, the muezzin makes his call to evening prayer at the nearby mosque. The kids playing on the astroturf field don't let it distract them. Said fakes left, breaks right, aims, shoots and scores. The 23-year-old is on the pitch at the Garowe Fitness Center several times a week. He always comes here in the evening after his classes at the Puntland State University. The center provides a clean place to play soccer. And an armed security guard stands at the entrance to make sure that it is also safe.

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