The welcome ceremony which gathered hundreds of football
volunteers including the country’s most renowned legends was as known in
history described the ‘first of its kind’ to be ever organized in Somalia as a
welcome party for a football federation president.
Chairman of the DBG FC Bashir Salad Barre who spoke at
the ceremony on the behalf of the congress reiterated that Somali Football
stakeholders were committed to the promotion of the game in Somalia and will do
everything in the capacity to help the elected federation officials.
Director General of the ministry for youth and Sports Dahir Abdi Abdullahi started his address with words of congratulations sent to SFF president Abdiqani Said Arab and his executive committee members and as well as the congress for electing an active and experienced young president.
"It is a great honour for the ministry of sport to
witness such congregation which shows the eagerness and commitment by the
Somali Football family members to make development” the director general told
the welcome ceremony on Friday.
"On behalf of Somali government I thank you for your past
activities and I affirm that sporting organizations were the sole institutions
that were and still active and alive in the country since after the fall of
Somalia” Mr. Dahir Abdi Abdullahi told the welcome party.
Haji Mohamed Ahmed Olow, one of Somalia’s well known
football legends in 1960s said it was very pleasurable moment for him to
participate in such meeting with old friends including some playmates they had enjoyed
football together about half a century ago.
"This is a day of unity for the entire Somali Sporting
family, as I see the ministry of sport, the Somali National Olympic committee,
old players, fans and football stakeholders sitting together to expound support
for the new SFF president Abdiqani Said Arab and his committee” the veteran
footballer told the ceremony.
Former Somali National Olympic committee president and
current NOC honorary president Abdulkader Ibrahim Ga’al known as ‘Abkow’ whose speech
was mostly about citing the past history suggested advice and ideas of how to
make development to the new SFF executive committee under the leadership of
president Abdiqani Said Arab.
The president of Somali NOC Abdullahi Ahmed Tarabi added
that the recent election of Somali Football was a very beautiful job done by
the stakeholders when they elected young and experienced president who has more
knowledge in football administration.
"I praise the Somali Football Family members for organization
such very important meeting to show exquisite support for the federation” the
National Olympic committee president explained.
Somali Football Federation President Abdiqani Said Arab
who finally addressed at the welcome party thanked the congress for giving him
the chance to lead Somali Football for the next four years.
"I would like to thank the president of the world
football body (FIFA) Mr. Joseph S Blatter and his committee for accepting the
result of our election and sending a message of goodwill and congratulations to
us in the early hours of the following day—not only felicitations, but
president Blatter pledged for us his personal support and that of FIFA in
general and that shows the position Somalia stands in FIFA” president Abdiqani
Said Arab said in his address.
He said that the support and congratulations offered to
him by CAF President Issa Hayatou, CECAFA and so many friendly FIFA member
associations were very welcome and fully encouraging.
"I would like to thank the FIFA member association
department for noticing us that some people sent to them forged documents by
using the SFF letterhead illegally and as well as the names of the clubs
without the knowledge of club owners and managers” the president noted during
his address.
"We have transferred the case to the judiciary to ask
them why they stole the letterhead of Somali FA and forged the names of the
stakeholders” the president explained.
However, the president welcomed the offer by the old
footballers, experts and former referee instructors including Mohiyadin Mahmoud
Mohamed who was the referee instructor of Farah Addow.
T
hose veterans in the attendance who contributed to
Somali Football from 1940s included:
Mohiyadin Mahmoud Mohamed popularly known as (Farqajaan)
who served as football referee between 1947-1970s and as well as Mohamed Farah
(Dabdamis) and Haji Yusuf Mohamed Sheekh who served as referees in the years
between 1970-1980s.
Football legends including some who played for Somalia in
1960s and some who represented the country until late 1980s were also present
at the ceremony: They included: Haji Mohamed Ahmed Olow, Muridi Zein and Ahmed
Abas Busuri.
Photos: By Omar Ibrahim SFF Media
Somali
Football Federation Media Department
Email:somalifootballmedia@gmail.com