Famous Somali Football Instructor Assassinated

A prominent Somali football instructor has been assassinated in Somalia’s capital city.

Abdiwali Olad Kanyare, a former goalkeeper and goalie Instructor for Ocean Stars youth team was gunned down on Thursday evening while attending “Taraweh” (additional ritual prayers performed by Muslims at night after the Isha prayer during the holy month of Ramadan) inside a Mosque in Afgoye town, 30kilometers south of Somalia’s Capital, Mogadishu.

The assailants fled from the scene after their executing their mission.

“It is really very sad that we have missed a visionary young coach and instructor-- a man who had a great ambition for his football career,” said Abdiqani Said Arab, the President Somali Football Federation-SFF.

“On behalf of Somali Football Family, I send our heartfelt condolence to his family, relatives and friends in football. We will sadly be missing him,” SFF president said in a statement.

On the other hand, Ali Abdi Mohamed, the Senior Vice President SFF, said: “Kanyare was an active trainer and instructor who was always keen to pass his knowledge to everyone who wants it.” adding that we pray Allah to have mercy on him.”

The SFF called on the Somali government to investigate the brutal killing and bring the perpetrators to justice.

The late Kanyare was born in the city of Beledweyn on May 15th, 1980, but grew up in Mogadishu. He loved football since his childhood and his football career dates back to 1990s.

He featured for different football clubs including among others Bariga Dhexe FC, Horseed Sports Club and Mogadishu City Sports Club, previously known as Banadir Sports Club.

The late Kanyare also represented Somalia in many international competitions from 2000s until his retirement as national team goalkeeper in 2015. He then went on to educate himself and attended a number of coaching courses organised in Somalia by FIFA, CAF and Somali Football Federation.

Until his death, Kanyare held CAF license B coaching certificate.

In recent years, Kanyare served as the goalkeeper coach for Somali National Youth football squad, while he also conducted a number of goalkeeping courses across the country.

“In July 2018 my friend, Abdiwali Olad Kanyare, helped me establish Goroje Goalkeeping Academy in Somalia where we trained many young goalkeepers,” said Abdirizak Farah Omar [Goroje], the founder of Goroje Goalkeeping Academy.

“We travelled together to many regions in the country to conduct trainings. For me, his death marks a painful loss of a great friend and a brother,” Omar added.

Contributed by Ahmed Wetaka, Kampala-Uganda