The country’s minister for
youth and sports, Honorable Khadija Mohamed Diriye, was honored to inaugurate the
five-day course which has brought together some 30 referees including national
and international levels. The course is being
conducted by technical instructor, Felix Tangawarima [Zimbabwe] and fitness
instructor, Mbacke Mademba [Senegal]
Instructor Mademba, who
addressed at the launching ceremony of the course, said that arriving in
Somalia was a very mentionable moment of pleasure for him. "We are here to lead
this course for the elite referees in Somalia. I took a good decision to arrive
in Somalia and I am very happy to be here, I am sure I will come back to
Somalia once again” Mademba, said.
President of Somali Football Federation, Abdiqani Said Arab, who delivered a short address at the opening of the course extolled FIFA under the leadership of President Gianni Infantino and as well as CAF for continuously supporting the development of football in Somalia.
He went on to acclaim the
Somali minister for youth and sport, honorable Khadija Mohamed Diriye, for
playing a huge role in Somalia’s football development, adding that without the
minister’s encouragement and backing it would have been more difficult for the
SFF to make greater achievements.
The president said that
Somalia has been able to hold its FIFA courses at home since 2013. "We are very
happy that many instructors from across Africa came to Somalia since then”
president Abdiqani Said Arab, noted in his address.
On the other hand, the
president thanked the two FIFA instructors, Felix Tangawarima [Zimbabwe] and
Mbacke Mademba [Senegal] for coming to Somalia to deliver their knowledge to
the country. For Tangawarima, it is the second year running he is arriving in
Somalia, while Senegal’s Mademba is new to Somalia.
On her side, the minister for
youth and sports, Honorable Khadija Mohamed Diriye, said that Somalia is now
having a big change of peace and development, adding that the organization of
such international level courses was very important for the country which is
hugely recovering from years of conflicts.
"Football is one of the key
pillars for the development and peace building of our country. We have recently
witnessed that Somali football Federation organized a nighttime football match
which was the first in more than three decades. This was a tangible move
forward” the minister said.
"As you know CAF president
Ahmed Ahmed arrived in Somalia a month after his election and that was because
of the great cooperation between the ministry and Somali Football Federation
which also develops high profile relationships with FIFA and CAF” Honorable
Khadija Mohamed Diriye, explained.
"As a government we are planning
to invite the president of FIFA, Gianni Infantino and that invitation will be
done through the Somali Football Federation which is the FIFA-affiliate in
Somalia” the minister said before announcing the launch of the course.
Somali Football Federation Media Department
Email:info@somsoccer.com