Somalia’s minister
for youth and sport Mr. Khalid Ali Omar said in a press statement that FIFA’s particular
consideration to Somalia had demonstrating how the world body was committed to
playing a key role in the country, not only promoting football, but also humanitarian
assistance that prevented hundreds of thousands of Somalis from starving to
death.
"On behalf of the
federal government of Somalia, I would like to praise and thank FIFA under the
chairmanship of President Joseph S. Blatter who
have been keeping our football alive since Somalia fell into anarchy
more than two decades ago” the minister Khalid Ali Omar said in his statement.
Reconstruction of Stadium Banadir
The minister said
that the reconstruction of the country’s old football facility Stadium Banadir
was one of the very mentionable steps taken by FIFA toward the promotion of
football in Somalia.
"As we know Stadium Banadir
was fitted with an artificial carpet and with the completion of that huge
project we have got an international style facility and I would like to thank
President Blatter, his secretary General and executive committee members for such
move forward” noted the minister for youth and sport Mr. Khalid Ali Omar.
Humanitarian assistance
Glancing back to FIFA’s
reaction to the 2011 humanitarian crisis in the horn of African country, the Somali
minister said his country will always remember the world football’s generous
donation that rescued the lives of hundreds of thousands of Somalis after the country
experience the worst draughts in more than ten years.
"I can understand
that the good cooperation which the Somali Football Federation developed with
FIFA was the main reason behind such unique donation for Somalia—the cooperation
is more important and I thank Somali Football Federation for its commitment and
joint work with FIFA” the minister for youth and sport explained on behalf of
the federal government of Somalia.
Somali Football Federation Media Department
Email:somalifootballmedia@gmail.com