Minnesota USA: St. Paul soccer tournament celebrates U.S., Somali independence days

To some, it's guys kicking and chasing a ball on fake grass - just a game.

To a group of Somalian refugees from across the U.S., it's a soccer tournament in St. Paul, but also an opportunity to share stories of the ongoing strife in the east African country they fled as boys and the community celebration of upcoming independence days in their homeland and adopted home.

The more than 150 young Somali men from Owatonna, Dallas, St. Cloud, Boston, the Twin Cities and elsewhere fled the humanitarian crisis caused by tribal militias in Somalia for the freedom and safety of the U.S.

"Here it doesn't matter what tribe you are from," said player Abdi Fatah, 20, whose family fled Somalia when he was 2 and settled in Minneapolis. "It's what they say about sports; it unites people."

As goals were scored between the lines on the green synthetic turf at St. Paul Central High School, others kneeled in prayer under the red scoreboard. Meaty sambusa wraps and sugary tea were served at the concession stand, and players and fans shared what the tournament means.

Guled Dalmar, 27, of Dallas said he was in Somalia working on an exam in his fourth-grade classroom one day in 1991, and the next day, refugees had set up in the school as militias battled for control of the country.

"It went from this," said Dalmar as he pointed to St. Paul, "to 100 percent chaos."

At age 9, Dalmar fled with nine members of his family, but he didn't have to give up his boyhood game.

With tournaments like the one held in St. Paul through July 4, he and the majority of players who were born in Somalia can compete against their countrymen.
"We are not coming here to play the best players in the world or the best in the United States, we are coming here to play with people that have a common identity with us," he said. "We are Somalia, and we are American now."

That shared heritage will be marked with a July 2 celebration in Minneapolis, which splits independence days in Somalia (July 1) and the U.S. (July 4).

The interconnected cultures are also displayed on the backs of the McKnight team. The St. Paul Police Department and the Ramsey County sheriff's office supplied the team with jerseys and equipment.

Sheriff's office member Pete Baldwin,who grew up playing hockey and basketball in Roseville, was snapping photos and cheering for McKnight on Sunday afternoon.

"I'm not a soccer guy, but I understand the mentality," Baldwin said. "If you are looking to connect with kids, sports are the best way to do it."

Source: www.twincities.com