- By Mohamed Gabobe
- Mogadishu
9 minutes ago
image source, Abdishukri Haybe
Boxing was once banned in Somalia, but the sport is revived in the country still wracked by violence after years of civil war. The only official boxing club is proving to be a haven for some in the capital, Mogadishu.
“I grew up wanting to learn to fight so I could protect my family. That later brought me closer to the sport,” Najib Mohamed tells the ` between beats.
The 20-year-old has a slim build and sweats out of his hair with every hit. He trains in the ring in the middle of the gym.
Nearby, dust fills the air as another young boxer punches a battered punching bag. A thump is followed by the rattling of the punching bag chain, like someone shaking a bunch of keys.
In this old part of Mogadishu, the doors to the street stay open, allowing for a gentle breeze despite the scorching heat. Flickering lights illuminate the murals of boxers painted on the scarred walls.
Mohamed grew up in Mogadishu during violent and chaotic times, which sparked his interest in boxing. Times are still tough.
“In this city, negative temptations and insecurity are part of everyday life. Jumping in the ring numbs the pain and takes me away from the issues around me.”
Mohamed was only four years old when his father and grandfather were killed in 2007. They were shot during a violent siege of the capital when troops from neighboring Ethiopia tried to overthrow the Union of Islamic Courts, which then controlled the city.
Just one traumatic story among the many that this fledgling boxing group brings.
image source, Abdishukri Haybe
picture description,
Mohamed Amin has written a tribute to his mother on his gloves
The Somali Boxing Federation (SBF) was founded in 1935, but the sport was banned by the then military government in 1978 after someone died while participating in a fight. It wasn’t until 40 years later – in 2018 – that boxing made a comeback and the club reopened.
Now its young members dream of international success.
A group of them sit on a rickety bench with their gloves on and watch the workout.
Abdirahman Mire, Secretary General of the boxing association, is also watching.
“Many young people in this country have a passion for boxing but lack the support. It’s only right that I do my part,” he says.
image source, Abdishukri Haybe
picture description,
Mohamed Amin hopes to make it to the Olympics one day
Mire was responsible for reviving the boxing club when he returned to Somalia from Finland, where he had lived since fleeing the civil war in the early 1990s.
“Once in my life I was a young athlete like her. Leaving Finland was not easy, but despite the difficult circumstances, it was worth it.”
“With this generation, growing up, you have already seen everything. The effects of violence are felt all around you and these youngsters use their time in the ring to escape the madness around them and focus on becoming better boxers.”
Mohamed has undoubtedly made progress since joining the boxing club in Mogadishu, where he was able to train and learn first-hand the sport he loved. Now he has won gold at a local boxing tournament in the lightweight division.
“I envision going beyond this little boxing gym in the old town quarters to leave Somalia, not only to achieve my professional goals, but also to be an example for future generations of fighters.”
He hopes to give his family a better life in Somalia.
This message goes down well with his young fellow boxer Mohamed Amin.
The 21-year-old middleweight has a similar background and says the boxing club has had a positive impact on his life despite growing up in a bleak environment.
“From a young age I was fascinated by boxing and was fascinated by television,” he says.
“During my childhood there was no opportunity to play sports, let alone boxing, because of the war, but my mother always supported me in my ambitions.
“That’s why I wrote her name on my gloves and it’s a reminder of who I’m fighting for every time I step into the ring,” he tells the ` while holding his gloves together.
Amin’s hard work and dedication to boxing bore fruit in the years that followed, eventually opening new doors.
“I had the opportunity to represent Somalia on the world stage by securing a spot at the African Amateur Boxing Championships in Maputo, Mozambique last year.”
He now hopes to represent Somalia at the next Paris Olympics.
image source, Abdishukri Haybe
picture description,
Amin (left) and Mohamed (right) are committed to raising awareness of the sport in Somalia
Somali boxing made its breakthrough at the last Tokyo Olympics when London-based Ramla Ali boxed for Somalia.
“She showed dedication to the sport and her success in the ring is a motivation for many of the young people at the Mogadishu boxing club who today yearn to become world-famous boxers,” SBF chief Mire tells the ` while watching a collage of Ali scrolls fights.
Many young Somalis, whether boxers or not, would like to live in the diaspora like Ali.
The poverty and seemingly random violence outside of the boxing club’s relative tranquility are motivation enough, but whether exit is realistic, young boxers continue to find solace in the sport.
“We’re fighting for a chance at life, both in and out of the ring,” says Amin.
“These gloves we wear are not for show, but a means to a better life. We may not have enough resources in this country, but that doesn’t deter us. We’ve been through a lot worse and we’ll keep fighting.”
Comments are closed.