The high profile course
gathered 28 soccer referees including 9 international referees and assistant referees.
Somali Football
Federation deputy Secretary General and former international football referee
Dr. Hassan Mohamed Mahmoud said that the course was the 4th FIFA
level held for Somalia since 2010 adding that the organization of the course
was part of the joint FIFA-Somali FA efforts to enhance the knowledge and experience
of Somali soccer referees.
"With holding this course
in the country, we have saved thousands of dollars, because since 2010 we organized many courses
in Djibouti and that huge amount of money which we spent on travel and accommodations is now
saved and we will use it for other purposes” SFF deputy secretary General told
the opening ceremony on Sunday.
As shown in the SFF
activity schedules of the year, the deputy secretary General said that his
federation was intending to organize more courses in different regions for the next
two months, as part of the federation’s ‘spread’ the football program.
"The Somali referees are
now recognized as the ‘youngest’ of all soccer referees in the Africa continent
and on behalf of the SFF I thank our local instructors for scoring that
historic achievement” Dr. Hassan Mohamed Mahmoud told the launching ceremony of
the course, before welcoming the FIFA expert Ahmed El Shenawi to the platform.
Mr El Shenawi who
addressed in both English and Arabic languages said it was a very great
experience for him to arrive in Somalia and conduct such high profile course
for the country.
"First of all let me
thank Somali Football Federation authorities for the good work and in
particularly for making such high profile organization for hosting the course.
I don’t want to talk too much, because the content of the course is full and it
is time for me to teach and for you to learn” said Mr Ahmed El Shenawi who is
an official from FIFA refereeing development office and as well as will be
teaching at the course.
"What I want from you is
just to concentrate on the course, so do your best to gain more knowledge from
the training course” the FIFA expert told the trainees during his address at
the launching ceremony on Sunday.
He thanked local and
international media for making football activities in the country well known elsewhere
in the world. "The world knows Somalia
as a country who goes forward as its football never stops despite difficulties,
wars and lawlessness” Mr Ahmed El Shenawi noted.
Former Ocean stars
international and current Somali Olympic committee executive committee member Haji
Mohamed Ahmed Olow said it that makes a big sense for Somalia to do such FIFA
level training course in the country.
"On behalf of Somali NOC
president Abdullahi Ahmed Tarabi I would like to thank Somali Football Federation
for its continuous efforts and the unprecedented activities in the country”
said Haji Mohamed Ahmed Olow who was the Somali National soccer team playmaker
in 1960s.
"I advice everyone of you
to work more harder, so that you can gain more advantage from the course—please
keep your time and make professional attendance both in class and at fitness
sessions” the old Ocean stars member told the trainees.
Somali Football
Federation President Ali Said Guled Roble said that it was a huge step forward
for his federation to have its courses hosted at home, saying that Somalia was expecting
more other education seminars from FIFA.
The president said that
due to instability and lack of international style facility, Somalia wasn’t able
to do its FIFA courses in the country, but now that the situation changed and the country’s old facility was
shaped with artificial carpet the SFF was very hopeful that there will be
successive FIFA courses in the country.
"I praise our brother
Ahmed El Shenawi for coming here to conduct this course for Somalia” President
Ali Said Guled Roble said before announcing that the course was open.
Somali Football Federation Media Department
Email:somalifootballmedia@gmail.com