Cleveland State's Abdigani Yousof (188-G) collected each 15 points during the last two victorious games of the Cougars against Simmons and North Atlanta Prep.
Yousof is currently averaging 15,2 ppg (54,3 %FG and 43,3 % 3P-FG) and is sixth in scoring in the TJCCAA (NJCAA Region VII) while contributing 1,6 steals per game as well.
Cleveland State's Abdigani Yousof (188-G) collected each 15 points during the last two victorious games of the Cougars against Simmons and North Atlanta Prep. Yousof is currently averaging 15,2 ppg (54,3 %FG and 43,3 % 3P-FG) and is sixth in scoring in the TJCCAA (NJCAA Region VII) while contributing 1,6 steals per game as well.
With so many Somalis playing the game of basketball, we still have not received a player to compete the premier stage of the game. This however is about to change because of so many young Somali brothers and sisters playing more organized basketball in high school and college level.
With so many Somalis playing the game of basketball, we still have not received a player to compete the premier stage of the game. This however is about to change because of so many young Somali brothers and sisters playing more organized basketball in high school and college level. One of these young players who is about to change the game of basketball in the Somali community is a 6’2, 180 lbs name Salah Abdo (188-G-89). Salah who was born in Somali is seventeen years old phenomenal who currently plays for St. Marks Preparatory School outside of Boston, USA. Salah took up the game of basketball six years ago and has ever since excelled in playing the game. In this short period of time Salah was invited to “Big Tim” tournament in Las Vegas for the last two years, three times to New Jersey’s Reebok invitation, AAU nationals in Florida and Washington DC summer invitation. Only at seventeen years of age Salah is seen as a role model for the young Somalis in the greater Boston area. Salah is not only an exceptional basketball player but he is also a great student who believes that education is the key to success. When asked about obstacles that he had to over come in playing basketball he responds “people double me because of where I come from, but I let my actions speak for me”. Also about being consider the best Somali basketball player at his age Salah responds “I am just trying to put Somali on the map and it will happen soon”. I wish Salah all the success on and off the court and maybe one day we will have a Somali born playing in the NBA or WNBA.
Somalia is taking part in the 16th Arab Basketball Championships that have started in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Somalia is taking part in the 16th Arab Basketball Championships that have started in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The 12 national Arab teams taking part in this year's championship have been divided into 3 groups of 4 teams eaxh and Somalia has fallen in the very tough group 1 that alos includes hosts Saudi Arabia and the powerful Jordanian team:
Group 1: Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Yemen and Jordan
Group 2: Egypt, Sudan, Mauritania and Morocco
Group 3: Algeria, Tunisia, Iraq and Palestine
Top 2 teams from each group go to the second round with the first of groups 1 and 3 and the runner up of group 2 in one group and the first of group 2 and the runners up of groups 1 and 3 in the other group.
Notable absences include Lebanon, Syria, UAE, Qatar and Bahrain.
Somali Youth Basketball Tournament in Seattle, Washington
The “Somali Youth Basketball Tournament” was held on May 6, 7 and 8 in the United States with the participation of six Somali-American youth basketball teams with ages ranging from 14 to 18 years. This is an annual event organized by the Somali Youth Basketball League. This year’s event was in the Garfield Community Center in Seattle, Washington.
The “Somali Youth Basketball Tournament” was held on May 6, 7 and 8 in the United States with the participation of six Somali-American youth basketball teams with ages ranging from 14 to 18 years. This is an annual event organized by the Somali Youth Basketball League. This year’s event was in the GarfieldCommunity Center in Seattle, Washington. The six participating teams were: Tukwila, the Young Stars, Holly Park, Dynasty, Kent and the Warriors. The Young Stars team carried the championship trophy for this year.
Mohamed Said: A veritable Somali basketball star:
In this regard, it is worthwhile to note that in the previous year of this same event, the Somali basketball player Mohamed Said (188-G-85) had been chosen as the MVP. He didn't take part in this year's event because of age restrictions. However he did participate in a Muslim basketball tournament held in Portland on April 30th in which his team won with Mohamed Said ended up with an impressive performance including scoring 20 points, 12 rebounds and 5 assists.
Mohamed Said (6'2 170 lbs guard born 1985) has led the Somali basketball tournament this year 2003-2004 with an average scoring of 24.5 points per game. He was also very effective in shooting from all distances with an 80% free-throw percentage and a remarkable 48% in three point percentage scoring. He also won on May 20 this year the dunking competition.
Mohamed Said (6'2 170 lbs guard born 1985) has led the Somali basketball tournament this year 2003-2004 with an average scoring of 24.5 points per game. He was also very effective in shooting from all distances with an 80% free-throw percentage and a remarkable 48% in three point percentage scoring. He also won on May 20 this year the dunking competition. Mohamed Said has played consistently and showed great performance throughout. In June 2003 for example, he was the second leading scorer in the Somali team, with 17.5 per game, 6.7 rebound per game, 4.5 assists per game and 3.4 steals per game. In the All Star game, he had 18 points 8 rebound, 5 assists 3 steals to earn the all star M.V.P. award. He also won the African all-star 3 points contest. In May 2004, he took part in the African basketball championships game and was the second leading scorer on the team with 12 points, 9 rebound, 3 assists 2 steals. It is worthwhile to note that Mohamed Said had started playing basketball very early and even in high school had impressive results leading his team in every category, points, assists, rebounds and steals.
19th African Champions Cup is being held this year in 5 groups, with the best two placed of each group for the final round. The preliminary round of Group D will be held in Kenya from 31 August to 4 September 2004 and will include Global Money Transfer and Telecom S.
19th African Champions Cup is being held this year in 5 groups, with the best two placed of each group for the final round. The preliminary round of Group D will be held in Kenya from 31 August to 4 September 2004 and will include Global Money Transfer and Telecom S. (Somalia). The rival teams for Somalia in round 1 will be Ulinzi Warriors BBC and Post Bank BBC (Kenya), Hetro Bullets and Heroes (Zambia), Fallons (Uganda), Planet Police and JKT BBC (Tanzania) and Al Ahly Sporting (Egypt)
Basketball is one of the most popular sport in Somalia. It is only second to soccer in popularity. Somalia is a member of International Basketball Federation (FIBA) and the Association of African Amateur Basketball Federations (AFABA) Somali people are passionate about their basketball and they support the local club teams. In 1982, Somalia hosted the African men's Championship in Mogadishu.
Basketball is one of the most popular sport in Somalia. It is only second to soccer in popularity. Somalia is a member of International Basketball Federation (FIBA) and the Association of African Amateur Basketball Federations (AFABA) Somali people are passionate about their basketball and they support the local club teams. In 1982, Somalia hosted the African men's Championship in Mogadishu. The national men's teams placed third in those games Ever since those games held in Mogadishu, the national men's team had not seen success. The national team hope to rebound from years of disappointment and bring hope to the nation.
Address: Somali Basketball Federation c/o Egypt Basketball Federation 5, Gabalaya Street 11567 El Borg, Cairo, Egypt Tel.: +252 (1) 229797 Fax.: +252 (1) 216516 E-Mail: somalibasketball@hotmail.com President: Mr. Aden Hagi Leberow Secretary General: Mr. Ali Amin Hagi
There is also the Junior Development Program Office run by Abdifatah Ahmed in Toronto 3101 Weston Road #708, Toronto, Ontraio M9M 2Z9 Tel: (416) 748-8104 Fax: (416) 740-8076 E-mail: sombasketball@email.com The organization runs an official site at: sombasket.freeservers.com
Here is a story courtesy of the website: playsoccer-nonprofit.org
It is from 2002 about SOS Basketball Program in Mogadishu:
"In 2002 SOS Children's Village Mogadishu organized Games, although the event was not on as large a scale as 2001 Global Peace Games. "Organizing such events in a war prone area such as Mogadishu, Somalia, is quite a daunting task. However, this event was organized and proved very successful. The Games kicked off on September 28th in the afternoon. The teams that started the tournaments were SOS basketball and Walaalah from the city. Adan Yabarow Wish, the Chairman of the Somali Basketball Federation (effectively in 2002), officially opened the Games together with the SOS Village Director, Mr. Mohamed Sheikh. The guest of honor was Mr. Abdiquadir Ibrahim Ga'al, the Acting Chairman of the Somali Olympic Committee. Vice President of the Somali Basketball Federation, the SOS Management Committee, the Somali Olympic Committee, members of Somali Sports Federations, local TV and radio stations, SOS mothers, children, and staff members and other guests from the community. Mr. Sheikh, the SOS Village Director, mentioned in his speech that the Somali youth and children should use sports as a stepping-stone for forging peace and emphasizing friendliness and cooperation. He also mentioned that sports helped develop good qualities in children and make them responsible people. In the future, these children and youth would become better people who would in turn make better decisions and the world a better place to live in. Mr. Ga'al of the Olympic Committee also gave a speech and emphasized the importance of peace saying, 'Where there is no peace there is nothing.' He praised SOS for hosting the Games and for being on the frontline of promoting sports of peace."
Eurobasket has also run a story dated August 7, 2004 on our Eurobasket Canada page (editor Garo Salibian) about the Somail Youth Basketball League (SYBL). http://www.usbasket.com/can/can.asp It is as follows: Ottawa Lynx baseball team, Ottawa, Ontario (Canada), the Ottawa Police and members of the Somali community have raised US$3,060 for the establishment of a new Somali Youth Basketball League through ticket sales and donations at the Lynx versus Norfolk Tides regular season game. Out of this effort, the Somali Youth Basketball League (SYBL) was born. The purpose of SYBL is to help prevent youth crime through team building, supporting physical activity, and encouraging them to think and act positively. Ismail Mohamed, one of the founders of the League said: "The League is going to help young Somali girls and boys in Ottawa. We created this league to capture their hearts. We are going to provide something that is missing for them in Ottawa. We are very excited about the league. We still need volunteers and donations and hope that the support we have had so far will continue." On the other hand, David Pepper, Director of Community Development said: "A further cross-cultural opportunity was also provided by this initiative, We saw an ideal opportunity to bring local community members to the baseball park - many of them for their first ever baseball game. And the opportunity to raise money for the Somali Youth Basketball League was an added benefit." The Deputy Chief of Police Larry Hill said about the Ottawa Police involvement: "We support youth in many ways and we know that recreation programs are essential for developing skills in our young people. The Ottawa Police saw this as another opportunity to work directly with Somali youth." SYBL is a volunteer, not-for-profit basketball league that will offer a fun and competitive environment for youth and to maintain a drug and violence free environment. For more information: Telephone: (613) 325-9052 or email them c/o info@ottawapolice.ca You may contact David Pepper, Director, Community Development Pager: 566-5160
Finally InternationalBasketball.com has a Somali Basketball page at: internationalbasketball.com
Somalian basketball league this season showed the emergence of four good teams that can pose good competition.
They are:
-Tukwila
-Holly Park
-Dynasty
-Young Stars
Two teams qualflied for the top championship title. It faced Tukwila with Holly Park and Tukwila won by six 84-78.
Somalian basketball league this season showed the emergence of four good teams that can pose good competition. They are: -Tukwila -Holly Park -Dynasty -Young Stars
Two teams qualflied for the top championship title. It faced Tukwila with Holly Park and Tukwila won by six 84-78.
