Somalia's Qaafow eager to make debut at FIBA AfroBasket 2017
0
- Visits: 664
-
- Share
Wednesday September 28, 2016
Somalia captain Yusuf Qaafow - Brisbane Spartans (Australia Basketball League).
The turmoil has forced many a Somalian to seek refuge abroad for a chance to embrace peace. Among them is national team captain Yusuf Qaafow who lives in Australia.
"I really think that once we have our full strength team we will be a tough team to play against." - Qaafow
Talking to FIBA.com, the 28-year old shooting guard who plies his trade for the Brisbane Spartans highlighted the importance of coming together with other Somalian players who live on different continents to represent the pride of their nation.
Somalia captain Yusuf Qaafow - Brisbane Spartans (Australia Basketball League). Photo courtesy http://coffscoast.focusmag.com.au
MOGADISHU (FIBA AfroBasket 2017) - For the last two decades, Somalia has been engulfed in war resulting in millions of lives being lost, while an unstable economy has affected every aspect of life in the country.
The turmoil has forced many a Somalian to seek refuge abroad for a chance to embrace peace. Among them is national team captain Yusuf Qaafow who lives in Australia.
"I really think that once we have our full strength team we will be a tough team to play against." - Qaafow
Talking
to FIBA.com, the 28-year old shooting guard who plies his trade for the
Brisbane Spartans highlighted the importance of coming together with
other Somalian players who live on different continents to represent the
pride of their nation.
"To represent your country is a great
honour and a privilege. I thank God for that opportunity," Qaafow said.
"All my teammates are very proud also and understand the meaning of the
name and what is required."
Bronze medalists at the 1981 FIBA Africa Championship, Somalia has seen it all and Qaafow wants to return his side to that high level. He believes the current players have what it takes to achieve this feat.
Qaafow was four years old in 1992, when Somalia last took part in Africa's flagship competition in Cairo, Egypt. In the FIBA Africa Zone V Championships - Qualifiers for FIBA AfroBasket 2017 - Qaafow will lead his teammates into their third quest for a rather much anticipated return to the continental tournament.
"It
would be great for our people and all that happened in our country for
the last 26 years. We do not only want to participate in the Zone V
Qualifiers. To really compete with countries that have better funding
and that have been training together for a while is a great start. I am
personally not satisfied. I really think that once we have our full
strength team we will be a tough team to play against," he explained.
While
most of the players on the Somalian senior men's national team play
abroad, Qaafow does not take it for granted that he plays alongside a
number of teammates based in Mogadishu who have to go through hardships
to make it to training sessions, let alone lead normal lives amidst war
and strife.
"No one deserves to wear the jersey more than the
players from Mogadishu because they have seen the bad and the ugly
although they definitely need us as we have foreign training and
experience so we work together as a team because we are all Somalian,"
he explained.
Facebook
Twitter
Youtube
Google+
RSS Feed
Somalia's Qaafow eager to make debut at FIBA AfroBasket 2017
For the last two decades, Somalia has been engulfed in war resulting in millions of lives being lost, while an unstable economy has affected every aspect of life in the country.