Uffo Athletics Club-Mag.

CLUB MAGAZINE October 2019

UFFO ATHLETES DREAM OF INTERNATIONAL
COMPETITION…

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Introduction by Mohammed Ismail

I am the chairman and head-coach of Uffo Athletics Club, which is based in Hargeisa, Somaliland. I am also a
long-distance runner and qualified UK Athletics Coach (Endurance). I am originally from Hargeisa, but have lived
in London, UK for the past 27 years. I have been involved in athletics for nearly 20 years mostly as a runner and
now as an athletics coach.

Uffo came about whilst I was studying for a
community leadership degree at SOAS and
later when working at LSE as a researcher
with the project ‘Post-conflict reconstruction’, the role
of urban diaspora, Hargeisa and London. It was a
vision that I developed of the course of my
involvement with the sport, but one which only
became clear during my time at LSE partly because
of the people I interviewed and hearing about their
contributions to the reconstruction of Hargeisa. I
thought about what skills and knowledge I could take
back that will be most useful to people in Somaliland,
especially the youth. Uffo is a Somali word for
‘Blowing wind’ and is meant as a metaphor for an
‘Athletic movement’. Uffo is a modern athletic club
that is privately incorporated with a mission of social
activities, healthy living and youth development. Uffo
has ambition to become the first ever community
athletics club in Somaliland with wider membership
throughout the country.

In previous visits to Hargeisa, I was unable to find any athletes to run with, but this has changed slightly after the
introduction of the Somaliland marathon in 2018. Since setting up Uffo this year, we have seen between 30 to 50
runners (aged 11 to 20 years) keen to join our training sessions at Hargeisa stadium and in other parts of the
city. During the summer of 2019, I was struck by the athletes’ enthusiasm to learn new skills and be part of Uffo.
Some were attending training sessions at 5.30am in Freedom Park (Beerta Xoriyada), even though most do not
have appropriate running shoes or running gear and have little experience with structured training, so at Uffo we
focus on fundamental athletic movements, having fun and becoming role models to people of Somaliland.

We are desperately seeking a club kit sponsor as during the rainy seasons the showers have a very high
intensity so, having showerproof light jackets are an essential for the athletes. We would particularly like to
appeal to the Somaliland business community in the Horn and in the diaspora. We kindly ask for your support
and be part of ‘Uffo movement’ and the making of new generation of athletes from Somaliland. Please contact,
Mohammed Ismail on 00447450164038 or [email protected]. Thank you.

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By Rashid Handule.

I got into running by a chance during a 100m race in primary school for older boys where they needed an
eight heat to find another finalist, which I won, and then finished 2nd in the final. I also won the 200m and
800m. Unfortunately, my grandmother told me to stop running because two local runners died from heart
problems. So, I ended playing football most of teenage years. After the civil war in Somalia I moved to Europe
and saw professional athletes on TV, and this motivated me to start running again and soon joined a local
athletics club. After a brief training I managed to reach a decent standard in the 5km and 10k. Unfortunately, I
couldn’t continue because I had to learn a new language, commitments to fulltime job and I also got married.
However, after moving to the UK and eventually settling in London, I linked up with the Somali athletes in
Hillingdon AC and I am now running again as a Master athlete. After relocating to Somaliland in 2018, I went in
search of finding athletes to train with, but the standard of coaching and training was very basic. So, I decided to
do my own focusing on longer runs and soon the local athletes started to join me one after another. One of these
athletes, Osman Elmi even won The Dahabshiil Somaliland marathon 2019 and others placed respectable
positions in the 10k. Mohammed Ismail, who is a UK qualified athletics coach was also in hand to advice on
training sessions and was very supportive of the idea of having a separate training group from the one offered by
the Somaliland Athletics Federation.

In the summer of 2019, Mohammed Ismail visited Hargeisa for a
month and led training sessions and introduced athletes to
Oregon circuits, core exercises and longer track intervals as well
as officially setting up Uffo Athletics Club and holding a marathon
preparation workshop for the athletes at Deero Mall hosted by
Star TV. I believe there is untapped athletic talent in Somaliland
and their attitude to training is world class! and with our guidance
(Mohammed Ismail/Rashid Handule) and support from the
Somaliland community and its friends a lot can be achieved.

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When did you start running and why? In 2018, during the
Somaliland marathon which was my first ever race and I just believe
that I have a talent for running.
What do you hope to achieve from the sport?
I would like to be a role model for Somaliland athletes, like Mohamed
Farah, Eliud Kipchoge and compete internationally, inshallah.
What is your preferred distance?
I prefer the 5k and up to half marathon distances.
What are some of challenges with athletics in Somaliland?
These is a lack of encouragement from the government, lack of appropriate training and little understanding
about the sport in general. Other challenges include lack of qualified coaches and the fact that athletes cannot
represent Somaliland at a global stage due to lack of recognition as well as limited competition between different
regions of Somaliland.
What is your thought on Uffo Athletics Club?
In my opinion Uffo is an organisation that can bring about lot of positive changes to Somaliland due to its good
leadership and sincerity. Uffo is good for youth development especially in terms of integration and connecting
athletes and communities from all regions of Somaliland. We are grateful to Allah (swt) and the efforts of our two
coaches, Mohammed and Abdirashid.

Used running shoes for Somaliland

Now that Uffo Athletics Club is up and running and athletes are beginning to adapt and understand
structured training, access to appropriate running shoes and athletics kit is still a huge barrier for most.
This is something that UK (or anywhere in the world) based runners can help to change it. Uffo would
like to thank athletes from Herne Hill Harriers and others who have already helped by donating their used
running shoes and running vests (see photos above), which is a pivotal part of increasing access and
participation of the sports in Somaliland. We hope that you will continue to support our club and its athletes by
spreading the word amongst your family members, friends and colleagues. Mohammed Ismail can collect any
donations from you directly and may be contacted on 07450164038 or email:
[email protected]. Thank you.

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