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| Al-Shabab is opposed to footballers wearing shorts AFP |
The head of
Somalia's Football Federation says militant Islamist group al-Shabab
is welcome to take part in the country's Premier League. Abdiqani Said Arab told
me in Kenya's capital, Nairobi, that if the militants like to play, they will
be given a chance.
BBC Africa Live report continues:
"We
are not against them and they are not against us," he said.
Al-Shabab,
which practices its own extreme version of Islam, orders footballers to wear
full-length trousers, and has banned music in areas under
its control.
However,
Mr Arab said he believed some al-Shabab supporters were attending football
matches, but he declined to give further details.
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|
Improved
security has given football a boost BBC
|
Last
month, a Somali football match was broadcast live on national TV for the first
time.
The
league is attracting foreign players because of the improved security
situation, Mr Arab said.
"More
than 20 foreign players are now playing in our Premier League in about six
clubs," he added.
Government-backed African
Union troops have regained control of many areas from al-Shabab, which fighting
to impose Islamic rule in Somalia.
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