Somalia has lost its most high profile football legend, Said Mohamed Duale, who passed away after a long illness. The late Duale who even after his death still holds the record as Somalia's best footballer in history, died in the city of Aden south Yemen on the 1st of April, 2020.

Somali Football Federation president, Abdiqani Said Arab, said that with Duale’s death Somalia missed its greatest footballer in history. The late Said Mohamed Duale, was born in the same city on September 18 1947 and was born to a Somali father and a Yemeni mother. Legend Duale joined Somali police club in 1967, while from 1971 to 1978, he played for Somali military club Horseed where he had enjoyed a very good time.

Legend Said Mohamed Duale, is recognised as Somalia’s most senior footballer in history. He was appointed to the National team in 1967 and he never missed a single international game since he ended his Ocean Stars career in 1978. "I was playing for Jeenyo and we fought against each other during Jeenyo-Horseed clashes in the national league, but in the meantime he was our national hero and I loved him when we travel for international competitions, he was our top scorer and our most senior man in football” said legend Ahmednur Mohamed Hashi.

Legend Duale won the Somali Premier League previously known as SFF First Division with his team in 1971, 1972, 1973, 1976, 1977 and 1978, while they also won the General Da’ud Cup in 1971, 1972, 1975 and 1976. In his time, the late Duale, was crowned Somalia’s top scorer in every footballing season.

"The first quarter of 2020, has been a very painful experience for Somalia, as we also lost another great legend, Ibrahim Mohamed Hersi, who died in the US city of Minneapolis on March 14, 2020. We are saddened by the death of the two great legends” Somali Football Federation president, Abdiqani Said Arab, said.

Legend Ibrahim Mohamed Hersi, was born in the eastern Sudanese city of Kassala in on 29 June 1944. In 1968, he joined the then Somali military football team now known as Horseed Sports Club and he remained at Horseed until his retirement as a player in 1978. He was also member of the Ocean Stars in the same period 1968-1978.

I still remember the good old days we enjoyed together. Legend Said Duale, legend Ibrahim Hersi and I had spent many very beautiful years at both Horseed and the National Team. I have missed two great colleagues” said legend Mahmoud Ali Ibrahim, one of the living great Somali football legends.

Somali Football Federation Media Department

Email:info@somsoccer.com