After his recent visit to the southern Juba land state of Somalia, the president of Somali Football Federation, Abdiqani Said Arab, has announced major regional football development programs.
The president accompanied by SFF executive committee member and head of competitions department, Mustaf Elmi Afrah, went on a three-day working tour to the region’s provincial capital Kismayo at the invitation from the regional minister for public affairs, Mohamed Ibrahim Mohamed.
During his working tour, the president held separate meetings with government officials, local football authorities and football community in the region discussing with them on several issues relating to the promotion of football throughout the Juba Land semiautonomous state.
Main objectives of the presidential visit
“Our working visit to the region was the first of several tours to all regions in the country and was mainly intended to study the needs for football promotion in the Juba Land state and it is part of our policy to help children and youths in every tiny village in Somalia to enjoy in football” Somali FA president, Abdiqani Said Arab, said in a press statement on Saturday.
In his post election address last year, president Abdiqani Said Arab announced new development initiatives under the ‘spread’ the football program which is part of our four-year strategic plans.
“We visited the city’s main football facility and other open grounds where children play football. This was part of our preparations for the regional football league which we are going to inaugurate next year” president Abdiqani Said Arab, said in his press statement.
The launch of the first ever regional football league in Somalia was one of several key development initiatives announced by the president during his post election address last year.
“After assessing the region’s needs, we have decided to first implement three development courses: coaching, refereeing and football administration to be organized in November. The courses will be inaugural for other development programs to be implemented in the region” the president explained.
He praised the Juba Land state authorities and the region’s local football administration for their commitment to football development. “The regional state president, Sheik Ahmed Mohamed Islam and his minister for public affairs, Mohamed Ibrahim Mohamed are football-loving leaders and during their term in office, I am hopeful that football in the region will develop more” SFF president, Abdiqani Said Arab accentuated.
NEXT STEP
In the next few weeks, the Somali Football Federation president, Abdiqani Said Arab, is scheduled to travel to the Somali regional states of Puntland, Southwest Somalia state and then flowed by the rest states. ‘The visits will continue until we reach all states” the president mentioned in his statement on Saturday.