Somali Football Federation | Activity Magazine
SOMALIA APPRECIATES CAF FOR FA PRESIDENT´S AWARD
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omalia had shown its admiration for the 2015 African Football [leader of the year award] presented to the country’s Football Federation boss Abdiqani Said Arab by the governing body of African Football [CAF]. Somali government officials, president of the national Olympic committee, Somali FA president and members of his executive committee, Somali Football stakeholders, presidents of national sporting federations and national sporting associations, former and current Ocean stars members and referees including retired and active referees all gathered at a luncheon at the Lido Sea Food restaurants in the Lido Beach resort of Mogadishu on 17th of January 2016 to show support for the Somali FA and to thank CAF for awarding Somalia. Former Somali FA vice president,
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Abdulkadir Mohamud Abdulle, who addressed at the appreciation ceremony, said it was a historic moment for Somalia to have its FA boss presented the African football leader of the year award. “It is a very great experience in Somalia’s football history. I am really very happy and I don’t know what more I can say. All Somali people are with you in all your endeavors to develop our football” said Mr. Abdulle who served as SFF vice president from 2001 to 2005. SFF senior vice president Ali Abdi Mohamed added that the good governance award presented to president Abdiqani Said Arab will encourage the country’s football federation members to redouble their efforts. He announced that the SFF has drawn a special rehabilitation program for the street boys and child soldiers to build a
Somali Football Federation | Activity Magazine
good future for them. The president of Somali National Olympic Committee, Abdullahi Aahmed Tarabi said it was a great and historic achievement for Somalia that its football federation was awarded by the African football governing body CAF for good governance and the development of football in a country where it was impossible to do such work. “Our sport is lacking the government’s role because the world sport goes with financial support from their governments. I hope that one day we will be securing huge support from our government and I am sure if we get the kind of support we need from our government, Somalia sport will grow more” Somali NOC president Abdullahi Ahmed Tarabi told the gathering. The chief of Somalia’s correction troops and former