Nairobi's Kasarani: From Stadium To Detention Center

Sadiq Abdulqadir Mohamud has walked into Nairobi's Kasarani Stadium to show off his football talent countless times.



But the last time the attacking midfielder for the AFC Leopards, who boast a record 13 Kenyan Premier League titles, was "taken" to the stadium was like no other.



"I never imagined I could be detained by police. I am a humble and quiet person and law abiding," the 18-year-old star footballer told Anadolu Agency in an interview after Kenyan authorities released him from the stadium last week.



Kasarani Stadium was recently turned into what human rights activists now describe as a "concentration camp" housing hundreds of inmates.



Following a recent spate of attacks in Nairobi and the coastal city of Mombasa, the authorities launched a wide-ranging operation ostensibly aimed at restoring public security.



The operation has seen thousands of people detained for screening, mostly thought to be Muslims from Nairobi's Eastleigh district, home to an estimated 50,000 Somali refugees.



Mohamud, who was born to Somali parents and who currently lives in a two-room Eastleigh apartment, recently became – albeit temporarily – an inmate of the stadium in which he has so often played.



"Barcelona were playing Atletico Madrid in a Champions League match," he said, recalling the night of his arrest.



"There was no power in my apartment… I decided to go out and look for somewhere I could watch the match and support Barcelona," said Mohamud, speaking in Swahili, English and Sheng – the latter a form of slang spoken mainly by Nairobi's youth.



But the promising footballer never got to watch the crucial match (which Barcelona lost 0-1).



"It was late at night around 11pm. I had left my apartment with no documents," he recounted. "My friend's home is just meters away from my apartment, so I assumed there would be no trouble."



But there was.



Mohamud, who was born in Nakuru, Kenya to a Somali refugee family and who holds Kenyan citizenship, was arrested by police on the way to his friend's house.



"I pleaded with police to release me. I told them I am in Kenya legally and play for the Leopards, but they wouldn't listen. They kept on demanding my documents," he said.



The footballer, known by his fans as "Alcantara," was then transferred from one police station to another.



With the ongoing crackdown stretching the capacity of Nairobi's police apparatus, he was eventually transferred to Kasarani Stadium, now a massive detention center.



AFC Leopards team manager Francis Xavier came to the rescue of the Somali star footballer once word of his detention went round.



"I am grateful to the Kenya Football Association and my team and fans," he said. "They showed me support."



But Mohamud dodged questions regarding the details of his two-day detention.



"What's important is that I am now out and will be back to training soon," he said. "Life has challenges."



-Dreams-



Mohamud, who plays for the Ocean Stars, Somalia's national team, is seen as a role model by many disaffected young Somalis tired of living in a country torn by war and conflict.



"I always take time to talk to young Somalis to encourage them to dream on, despite the challenges they are facing," he said.



"They admire me and I like to share my success with them," the star midfielder added.



In January, in hopes of nurturing the talents of more young Somalis, the footballer established his Sadiq Foundation.



"There is enormous football talent in Somalia," said Mohamud, who in 2012 led the Somali national team to win their first ever match in 24 years, beating host Sudan in Khartoum.   



"Somalia is coming up. We are now challenging big teams in Africa," he added. "If we could get good coaching, we could go far."



The footballer paused for a moment and reflected on the topsy-turvy politics of his war-torn home country.



"This is the time for change in Somalia," he said.



"This is the moment we need to realize we have to change our destiny."



englishnews@aa.com.tr - Nayrobi