Muqdisho,(insidesomalia.org)- As daily bloody conflicts are taking place in Somali capital, the nation’s sporting family continues its heavy task by launching the 25th national basketball championship Friday in Mogadishu.

Thousands of cheering fans attended the opening ceremony at the 1st July stadium in Abdul Aziz neighbourhood in eastern Mogadishu.

Somali Weyn TV and Radio co-owner, Mr. Hussein Abdi Alasow, was given the honour to open the 25th national championship on behalf of the Somali media family.

The president of the Somali sports journalists association, Abdi Aziz Godah Barre, welcomed the move describing it as an honourable present that the basketball federation gave to the media.

“Media workers are our friends so we are for the first time inviting a representative from Somali media family to open the game,” Somali basketball federation president Aden Hajji Yabarow said at the opening.

 “As long as insecurity is growing in Mogadishu we are committed to continuing the sports activities which can take a great share in scoring peace in Somalia as we have learned from the past,” Somali basketball federation president added.

The first game was between Somali police force club Heegan and Horseed Somali military club, during which Somalia’s current most powerful basketball club Heegan won by 62-34.

The 25th basketball championship will last for 2 months.