Chimera Posted May 16, 2011 Young Future Somali Tennis stars on Show Read story Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ElPunto Posted May 18, 2011 Not only pirates – Somali hoops 26/04/10 22:09 Kris Santiago Somalia is primarily known these days for its pirates and the lack of a government to most of the world. Basketball seems not to be associated in any way with the Eastern African country located at the Horn of Africa. When I first searched for players that originated from Somalia, I found a refugee who studied and played ball in the Midwest of the United States. After securing an interview for Africabasket.com with him, he later mailed me to take the interview off the web as he feared that his family back home in Somalia could be threatened by reprisals. As you can see, getting a better inside look into Somali hoops seems to be a tough task even nowadays with the World Wide Web being a big help. When talking about notable players emerging out of Somalia, then you have to talk about guys like Yaseen Musa, Salah Abdo and Saeed Kosar who all succeeded to put their country's flag on the basketball map in different ways. While Musa and Kosar are both on the Qatari national-team, Abdo is on the way to be a future pro player while attending college in the United States. As Somalia does not provide stable competition within the country, most players are leaving the country towards other nations like Egypt, Yemen and primarily Qatar. Yaseen Musa has been a household name in Middle-eastern basketball for years but only a few know that he is originally from Somalia. The lanky forward even applied for the NBA Draft a couple of years back but went undrafted and played also in a US minor league before settling back to Qatar where he is still star of the local league. Just check out the link to the video above! Another Somali professional basketball player is Saeed Kosar who nowadays goes by his Qatari name Saad Abdulrahman Ali. The 1,93 meters-tall forward grew up in Canada where he excelled in high school hoops and later also at Algonquin College under the eyes of coach Trevor Costello who calls Saeed and his brother Abdul "tremendous players with excellent basketball smarts". Kosar, who moved to Qatar in 2002 after graduating from college, represented then in 2004 the Qatari U-20 national-team since he had no chance to represent Somalia as there was virtually no national-team program and there is still none up to this day. Nowadays, the 1980-born is a regular fixture on the senior national-team of Qatar and in the starting five of his club-team AS Sadd for who he competed for in almost all of his years in the Qatari league. His younger brother Abdul is a standout at Algonquin College these days as the 1,88 meters forward is following in the big foot steps of Saeed. In twenty games played, the sophomore averaged 11,5 points per game and 4,5 rebounds per game for the Thunder who finished the season with 15 wins and five losses. Once he graduates, he could be heading over to the Gulf region as well to join his brother to form a formidable one-two punch in the league and maybe even in the national-team of Qatar. Point guard Salah Abdo struggled through injuries early in his career and is now back to full speed at tiny Trinity College in Connecticut. I found a great story that tells more about his struggles and how he sees himself as a role model for young Somalis around the globe. Abdo, who enrolled for a year at New Hampshire in the NCAA Division 1 ranks, could have strong 2010-2011 season to follow the few players out of his country into the Middle East to play professionally. But he is not the only one in his family who fell in love with the sport. Abdo also pointed me into a new direction. Better: To a new face on the block. Osman Olol, a cousin of Salah, is currently enrolled at Monroe Community College in the state of New York. Being a six foot nine inches tall forward, Olol should be receiving already some looks by NCAA D1 colleges who are in the need of a post player as he displayed his raw talent this first year by averaging 6,2 points per game in only 16 minutes per game. If given a chance, he might resurface in a solid program with more playing time available for him. There is some Somali talent hidden across the globe with strong ties to the country of its ancestors. But with the current situation being pretty unstable in their home-country, the Somali diaspora won't be given a chance anytime soon to defend the colors of their country in international competition. With the country’s lack of environment there is no chance of seeing a home-grown national-team and the near future of the sport in Somalia looks more than dim these days. Maybe it's up to the next generation of players that will be growing up elsewhere and may remember it roots, to lead a new financially-backed project into a possible qualifier to the African Championships in a couple of years from now. Only time will tell… http://www.talkbasket.net/blogs/not-only-pirates-somali-hoops-2998.html Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Somalina Posted June 6, 2011 Uptown Neighborhood News By Bruce Cochran Monday, June 06, 2011 When Omar Hussein was young his parents moved to the U.S. to escape civil war in Somalia. When he arrived here he only knew the Somali language. “We used to have to walk from city to city in Somalia,” says his grandmother, “and that was our exercise and many first generation Somali didn’t know any different.” At age 23, Hussein is now a senior fitness advisor at LA Fitness in Calhoun Square where he educates, trains and helps others. His motto is “be inspired to be the best person you can be today. Be a leader and set the example for those who look up to you.” “It was always something I wanted to do. Helping others achieve their goals by feeding the fitness experience and the stuff I know,” says Hussein. Now he’s helping other Somalis achieve their fitness goals. He explains that “most Somali men are athletic but because of their diet they don’t get what they want if they’re trying to build muscle. I’ve had guys say ‘how did you get big’ and ‘how long will it take to get big like you?’” Hussein tells them about diet and muscle training. It’s not about culture or religion. It’s really about native diet. He is a Muslim and although the Koran forbids women to sweat in the presence of men and for men to take steroids, there are really no other formal roadblocks to fitness. Hussein’s early diet consisted of rice, pasta and not a lot of meat–typical of a native Somali diet. Diana DuBois is Executive Director of WellShare International, which works to improve the health of women, children and their communities around the world. She confirms the native Somali diet as Somali rice, camel’s milk, pasta, injera bread and some goat meat. “That’s why most Somali men don’t get there,” says Hussen, referring to building muscle. And he continues, “the traditional Somali diet does not contain a lot of meat.” That’s why his current diet consists of lots of steak, mashed potatoes, greens, beans and cooked egg whites twice a day. “Everyone is bound to certain natural laws. If you take in more calories than you lose, you will gain weight. Eating enough calories from a balanced diet of macro nutrients such as carbohydrates, healthy fats, and protein and following a specific mass building weightlifting routine will ensure results,” concurs Anthony Meyer, YWCA Uptown Fitness Instructor. Hussein complements this diet with a rigorous five days of weight lifting workouts and only one day of aerobic exercise. This plan represents current thinking within the industry. Philip Yannuzzi, Owner and Trainer at Custom Fitness Uptown, describes the muscle gain program, “training in lower repetitions and higher weights adds strength and power to your fitness routine. This forces muscle tissue in the body into ‘adaptation,’ growing by learning to lift heavy weights.” So Hussein is teaching that although there will always be the super fast, slow, short, tall, strong or flexible individuals within a population, anyone can build muscle with the right diet and exercise plan. And this plan has allowed him to successfully pursue a future in football. He started by learning the English language. Then he played recreational football at Balboa Park in San Diego in 2000. Already at the recreational level, Hussein was recognized by his coaches. “Keep playing and take it to the next level,” they told him. From 2002 to 2006 he was captain of his high school football team and from 2007 until 2009 he played for Western Michigan College Football. Then in 2010 he got his break. He became a free agent, the first Somalian to do so, and played for the Dallas Cowboys Reserve Team as a receiver. Just this May he was invited to Training Camp with the Texas Texans professional football team for the potential to earn a pro roster spot. “If the Vikings gave me a chance as a member of the Somali community I would be happy to go and play for them as well. I have 8,000 fans that would watch me from all over the world.” How did he do it? With patience and application. His mom always said “Take baby steps and your time will come.” Ambrose Acua who plays running back for Ridgewater College in Willmar has found Hussein very encouraging, “this guy’s out there as a warm hearted role model, getting information out and being a big brother.” Hussein is modest and patient about this future and sums it up this way, “only God knows what the future will hold. Until then I will surround myself with fitness by helping those to achieve their goals.” More information can be found on Hussein’s website at www.omarhussein.yolasite.com and a documentary, mostly in Somali with some English, about him can be found at Bruce Cochran is Assistant Editor, Art Director and in charge of Production for the Uptown Neighborhood News and lives in CARAG. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Somalina Posted March 24, 2012 British Paralympic basketball star shoots for gold Born in Somalia but now a “full-time Scouser”, Abdi Jama, 26, is a member of the Standard Life GB Wheelchair Basketball team. He was crowned best newcomer at the 2008 British Wheelchair Sports Awards and looks set to help the team race home with a medal at this year’s Games. http://www.hiiraan.com/news4/2012/Mar/23336/british_paralympic_basketball_star_shoots_for_gold.aspx Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Xaaji Xunjuf Posted March 24, 2012 Maxamad Abdiraxmaan boxer http://oodweynenews.com/news/151200-mohamed-abdirahman-ina-abdi-shotaly-oo-xalay-feedh-ku-adkaaday.html Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
