The first half of the hotly-contested match
ended in 1-1 equality, but in the early hours of the second half the Singjet
boys scored their second goal as they took the lead of the match with 2-1 for a
period of ten minutes.
But the Nation Link Telecom’s E-maal boys stepped
up their attacks on the opposite goal as they happened to score the equaliser
goal before the end of the second half, and then the referee announced three extra
minutes.
However E-maal celebrated their win in the
opening match after young striker Bashiir shot a beautiful ball into the
opposite goal at the end of the last minute of the extra time. The winning goal
came as the referee was about to announce the end of the match whistle.
Somali Football federation Secretary General
Abdi Qani Said Arab who addressed at the launching ceremony of the tournament
said that his federation has three main objectives in organizing such tournament.
"This tournament is much more important for
us, because in one way it is a memorial for our former president Said Mahmoud
Nur and former Somali NOC leader Aden Hajji Yeberow, the second objective is to
select members of the national team during the tournament and the 3rdimportant objective is to teach local companies be engaged in football
sponsorships” Secretary General Abdi Qani Said Arab told the opening ceremony
of the tournament.
He said that 6 companies who are friendly
with Somali Football federation are currently taking part in the tournament
with each company sponsoring one of the six participating teams adding that the
SFF was very hopeful that these companies will be a great example for other business
companies across the country to follow behind them.
"Only friendly companies who show commitment
to football will be allowed to present their advertisements at our stadiums”
said the secretary General who praised the six companies who are currently
sponsoring the country’s stars football tournament. The friendly companies are:
Nation Link Telecom Somalia, Lido Sea Food Restaurant, Singjet, Global Hotel, Jazeera Palace Hotel and
City Palace Hotel.
Director for sport of the civil service
development ministry and former national team coach Saa’id Mohamed Abokar praised
the Somali Football Federation for the continuation of activities across the
country.
"For a long time in the past Somali Football
Federation was playing a key role in peace building and public integration, I
mean it wasn’t confined only to football development, but SFF played an
important role in the stabilization of the country by disarming thousands of
former child soldiers through football for peace activities and I hereby
announce that Somali government gives more priority to football, because of its
strength in the community” Mr. Abokar said on the behalf of his ministry.
Somali football federation executive
committee member and competitions department Chief Ali Abdi Mohamed indicated
that his federation spent a lot of efforts in this tournament and in
particularly getting companies to be involved in the competition.
He said that nearly 100 footballers who were
shortlisted from the recently ended division A and division B championships are
participating in the 19 day-tournament during which the SFF technical
department will make the last selection of the country’s national team members
who will then be engaged in special training programs.
"Twelve young coaches are leading the
participating teams of the tournament—they are young and very talented coaches
who benefitted from our courses in the past two years, we are really very proud
of what we have done so far, as our young coaches have been given the chance to
show their professions” SFF competitions department chairman Ali Abdi Mohamed
told the opening ceremony Monday.
For his part president of Somali Football
Federation Ali Said Guled Rooble thanked the sponsoring companies saying that
the history of Somali Football will always be mentioning them for becoming the
frontrunner companies in terms of associating with Somali Football.
"I urge the friendly companies to continue
sponsoring football after this tournament has come to an ended by the 12thof April, I mean we want the friendly companies not to stop their football involvement
after this tournament—I know Nation Link had several times sponsored some
events, but we urge the continuation of their involvement in football”
president Ali Said Guled Rooble told the ceremony before announcing the competition
was open.
Somali Football Federation Media department
Email:somalifootballmedia@gmail.com