A select eleven representing Somaliland soccer team in the United Kingdom kicked off a charity match with Peckham Town FC to raise funds for pastoralists badly hurt by the devastating drought in the Republic of Somaliland.
The two teams played at the Peckham team home ground.
The match, it was reported, raised $601 for the drought victims on their first meeting.
Organisers of the match expressed their gratitude to the Peckham side for hosting the Somaliland team, and for showing sportsmanship in their contribution to the charity event.
Equally, the organisers said they were delighted with the spirit and kindness of the Somaliland side for proposing a series of soccer matches to raise supplies for the affected populations in Somaliland through friendlies with established football clubs in the UK.
below are some Tweets highlighting the match played.
A great turn today's friendly with Peckham Town FC.Over £600+ raised for #Somaliland life makers&DEC East Africa crisis Appeal @Ilyas F Team pic.twitter.com/Fp4J60Yf5W
— Somalilanders (@Somaalilanders) May 7, 2017
https://twitter.com/somaliland_fa/status/861289759674699777
https://twitter.com/SomalilandWorld/status/861090318246006784
£601 raised for the East Africa crisis and @LifeMakers_SL from today's friendly against @PeckhamTownFC. WOW. Just Wow! pic.twitter.com/w9iEbbECsf
— Somaliland FA (@somaliland_fa) May 6, 2017
—————————- READ:
In photos: smoke bombs fill the sky as Peckham Town beat Somaliland 4-0 in friendly charity match
On Saturday, international football came to Peckham Town as Somaliland travelled to the Menace Arena to play an end of season charity friendly.
The Somaliland team comprised of Diaspora from London, Bristol and Cardiff.
At half time the score was 0-0, but the greater fitness of the home team players shone through in second half, with the game ending 4-0 to Peckham, courtesy of two goals from Taurean Roberts, and one a-piece from Kamura Ogunkoya and Samuel Strong.
Commentary from this photo report comes from Duncan Hart and all photos are (c) Duncan Palmer who did an outstanding job.
A great commemorative programme was produced for free by Paradiso Creative.
The attendance was around 120, made up primarily of Dulwich Hamlet fans plus Somalis, interested members of local community and a spattering of Clapton, Streatham Rovers, St Pauli (actual Germans!) and non-league groundhoppers.
Ref was Dave Hooker, assisted by Lucas Hooker and Nana Boakye-Agyman who all kindly waived their match fees for the game.
Mike Smith – owner of Peckham McDonalds and big sponsor of Peckham Town.
Somaliland camel bell from Hargeisa adds some traditional noise.
Alli Abdullahi was playing his first game in the middle of the park since being attacked in November.
The Hamlet massive.
Streatham Rovers impresario.
Fans lit up green smoke bombs for Somaliland and red ones for Peckham Town.
Somehow Somaliland (white) failed to score!
Great to see players celebrate with their supporters.
Peckham Town founder, chair, head coach, hero….Bryan Hall.
