Once a staple event in the Twin Cities, Somali American Soccer Week had been canceled since 2015 until state Rep. Samakab Hussein and renowned coach Fartun Osman helped bring it back.

This year’s tournament, featuring adults and teens from as far as London and Sweden, ran June 22 through July 2 at Central High School and Macalester College. The 24 teams competed for a trophy and what Osman hopes is a chance to play in Somalia, pending arrangements.

The soccer finals also featured ethnic Karen soccer teams, as well as a presentation from Karen dancers and other artists.

“We don’t want our kids to forget where they come from, and that’s why we’re doing this. It’s so they know their roots and their culture,” said the tournament’s lead organizer Osman, who splits her time between the U.S. and Somalia and coaches the Somali women’s national basketball team. “It’s culture and sports.”

The event was peaceful overall, said Ramsey County Sheriff Bob Fletcher, whose deputies were contracted to provide security.

On the last night, at the end of the championship game, there was a fight between two players, he said. Their teammates were around and some attendees came onto the field. Deputies used a chemical irritant to clear out the area, said Fletcher, adding that he was on the scene.

All in all, “it was an upbeat event” with 3,000 people attending the championship game, Fletcher said.

Pursued sports despite taunts

Born and raised in Mogadishu, Somalia, Osman grew up with soccer and a dream to be the female version of Pele, the legendary Brazilian player. She pursued her passion in sports with family support, despite taunting from peers unaccustomed to seeing women succeed in athletics.

Her hard work paid off when she was selected as a high schooler to join the Somali national track and field team, and later the national basketball team.

Osman recalls finding the passion to coach sports in her youth. A coach noticed her playing basketball and taught her how to improve her skills on the court. Afterward, Osman gathered a group of girls to play basketball and taught them what she learned. The next day, they scrimmaged against the boys team.

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“And we won. Then he said to me, not only can you be a good player, but you can be a good coach,” she said. “And that’s what I became.”

Osman moved to the U.S. in 1994 and continued to coach and play sports with her children. But she saw through her daughter that the same stigmas and resistance for Somali and Muslim girls still existed in America.

“I decided to take it upon myself to make the change I wanted to see. I have always wanted to break barriers and overcome stereotypes through my coaching,” Osman said. “I felt as though I jumped over many obstacles to reach this point.”

Girls Rock and the NCAA

Osman is the founder and chief executive officer of Girls Rock, formerly known as Somali Girls Rock. She created the nonprofit organization to help young Somali and Muslim girls succeed in sports and education. The organization later expanded its mission to serve young girls from all backgrounds.

Throughout her career, Osman has received numerous awards for her coaching and leadership skills, along with fighting for the rights of Muslim girls to wear a hijab in competition. Osman received the NCAA Legacy Award in 2022.

“I am proud to be a role model for girls and women all over who have never had someone look like me represent them, and I’m proud they are able to do the same,” she said.

Osman has coached basketball, soccer, swimming and track and field, and hopes to someday coach gymnastics. She has supported many in the community, including Hussein, the state representative said.

Tournament organizers Rep. Samakab Hussein, DFL-St. Paul, left, and Fartun Osman at Somali American Soccer Week on Wednesday. Once a staple event for the Twin Cities Somali community, Somali American Soccer Week had been canceled since 2015 until Hussein and Osman helped bring it back. (Gwynn Vang / Pioneer Press)

“She was my mentor growing up. She used to bring us, the young, underrepresented kids, to play basketball,” Hussein said. “Fartun Osman has been a pillar in our community, dedicating over 20 years to fostering youth sports.”

Abdelhakim Ismail, 29, has been playing soccer for about 16 years and played for MPLS United in the recent soccer tournament. Ismail was introduced to soccer by Osman at a young age and learned the game through her coaching.

“I think a lot of people don’t see the beautiful part of this community. It brings in many people from different countries and states, and you build unity, you build a family,” Ismail said.

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