Somali football Federation has opened the second youth football development center in the port city of Kismayo on Sunday 16th of February 2025, marking another significant step towards football development taken by Somali Football Federation within a matter of a week.
Kismayo which is 497 kilometers south of Mogadishu, is the capital of the Jubbaland State and it is a city well-known for its football publicity. Somali Football Federation senior vice president, Ahmed Takal, was in the city where he inaugurated the launch of the new center.
“Somali Football Federation decided to open development centers in all states. This is one of them, while the first one was opened in Baidoa, South West State of Somalia” SFF senior vice president, Ahmed Takal, said adding that such centers will hugely contribute to the country’s football development.
“I am very excited that Kismayo is hosting the second development center to be opened in the country. This region was once famous for football” Mr. Takal said.
“As everyone remembers Kismayo won most trophies of Somalia’s regional football competitions; the city’s football team was nicknamed after [MAROODIYAASHA] which means [ELEPHANTS] in English, because they were the most victorious team. Now with the launch of this center I am very hopeful that the city will soon regain its status as a football powerhouse” SFF senior vice president, Ahmed Takal noted.
The minister for youth and sport of the regional state, Mr. Abdirashid Abdirahman Amir and the chairperson of Jubbaland Football Association, Ahmed Abdullahi Ahmed, were among several dignitaries who witnessed the inauguration of the new youth football development center in Kismayo. The center will train U 9 U13 and U15 age groups.
The regional minister of sport, Abdirashid Abdirahman Amir, thanked Somali Football Federation for awarding such a development center to the state. “I would like to announce with a loud voice that Jubbaland State will fully join hands with Somali football federation in terms of football development” the regional minister said.
