In 2017, Somalia ranked 206th on the FIFA world football ranking. Lack of funding, poor training conditions, and the constant threat of terror from the Al-Shabaab militia hinder the professionalization of the sport. The documentary follows two Somali national players, Sadaq Mohamud and Sa’ad Hussein, on their difficult journey to becoming professional footballers.
Kurator:in
Hello, my name is Abdolghadir Ahmad, but everyone calls me ‘Abdi’. I come from Somalia and I am 32 years old. I have been living in Germany for two years. This is my second time participating in KINO ASYL. I love taking part in public events with other people. In my free time, I enjoy watching football, especially the Bundesliga and FC Bayern. I’m also very interested in films and music. I like writing short stories as well. Last year, I showed the opening film *QABiyo IIL*, which means "Pride and Grave" in German. I wanted people here to learn something about the Somali civil war. This year too, I would like to present an interesting film from my home country. It’s not easy to find a suitable Somali film in good quality that was actually shot in Somalia. I chose the film *Men in the Arena* because it can show viewers a different side of my country. In the news, you mostly hear about war. But this documentary shows culture, sports, and everyday life through the story of two young Somali football players, Sadaq Mohamud and Sa’ad Hussein.
Kurator:in
Hello, my name is Abdolghadir Ahmad, but everyone calls me ‘Abdi’. I come from Somalia and I am 32 years old. I have been living in Germany for two years. This is my second time participating in KINO ASYL. I love taking part in public events with other people. In my free time, I enjoy watching football, especially the Bundesliga and FC Bayern. I’m also very interested in films and music. I like writing short stories as well. Last year, I showed the opening film *QABiyo IIL*, which means "Pride and Grave" in German. I wanted people here to learn something about the Somali civil war. This year too, I would like to present an interesting film from my home country. It’s not easy to find a suitable Somali film in good quality that was actually shot in Somalia. I chose the film *Men in the Arena* because it can show viewers a different side of my country. In the news, you mostly hear about war. But this documentary shows culture, sports, and everyday life through the story of two young Somali football players, Sadaq Mohamud and Sa’ad Hussein.