Somali Football Federation has on Saturday launched the 3rd phase of the
regional football development program for the semiautonomous Somali state
of Galmudug in the city of Galkayo about 750 kilometers north of the
capital Mogadishu.
A total of 62 football volunteers are being trained different
football-related skills under the regional development scheme. They are 30
referees, 20 coaches and 12 football administrators from several cities,
towns and villages across the Galmudug semiautonomous state.
According to the strategic plans announced by Somali FA president Abdiqani
Said Arab, several years ago, the regional development scheme is intended
to spread football knowledge and experience throughout the country, as
part of the [Spread the football program].
Somali Football Federation deputy Secretary General, Ali Mohamed Ahmed who
addressed at the launch ceremony for the educational courses first
commended Galmudug state for the high profile welcome the SFF official
received since arrival in Galkayo late on Friday.
“The main point we organize such educational courses is to give every
single region the capacity to be able to organize their own courses
successfully in the future. Another importance is also to help
semiautonomous states to organize professional regional level football
leagues” SFF deputy Secretary General, Ali Mohamed noted during his
address at the launch ceremony on Saturday.
“At the end of the courses Somali Football Federation will launch a
fully-equipped office for the local football Association in the Galmudug
State, as we did in other states including Puntland and Jubaland” Mr.
Ahmed said.
Former Somali police chief and former Galmudug State president, Major
General Abdi Hassan Awale, who was honored to inaugurate the development
program, praised Somali Football Federation, for the good job they are
doing for the whole country.
“In this world, football is all about business, development and
civilization. The progress every community makes depends on the level of
their football and in Somalia we want to develop the game so that the
country can progress well enough” said former Somali Police chief Major
General Abdi Hassan Awale before announcing the educational courses were
open.
In May 2009, Mr. Awale was awarded with special recognition award for his
long-standing role in the promotion of sport in Somalia as he lent a
forceful commitment to Somali sport since Somalia descended into chaos in
1991.