Football administrators, coaches and referees in Puntland State trained

As part of its regional football development scheme, the Somali Football Federation, successfully implemented administration, coaching and refereeing courses in the Puntland State of Somalia. A total of 85 football volunteers were trained during the development courses which were held in the provincial capital of Garowe between 6-11 February 2016

The courses which were conducted under SFF’s regional football development scheme through the [Spread the football] initiative, had gathered 40 referees, 30 coaches and 15 football administrators from regions in the semiautonomous Somali State of Puntland. The program was meant to help the federal states in the country prepare for the country’s first ever regional football leagues. The inauguration of the regional leagues was one of several development initiatives announced by the Somali Football Federation president, Abdiqani Said Arab, during his post election address on 31st of August 2014.

Secretary General of the Puntland Branch Football Association, Abdulkader Ali Dahir, who first addressed at the closing ceremony, said that Somali FA had spent a plenty of efforts, time and money to organize the development courses. Somali Football Federation executive committee member Osman Jama Diraa, added that according to the development strategy announced by SFF president, Abdiqani Said Arab, Somali FA was committed to spread the football knowledge throughout the country and the courses implemented in the Puntland state were part of that long-term strategy to promote football nationwide.

SFF education officer, Ali Mohamed Ahmed, said that education is the necessary basement for the development of the game. “FIFA and CAF give much priority to the development of education because the human resource is

the main drive for the football promotion and as SFF, we decided to develop our people, because when we have educated people, we can promote the game” he said. Somali NOC executive committee member, Fadumo Ali Nur, said she was very happy to witness the implementation of this huge development program adding that Somali Football Federation was praiseworthy for the organization of the development courses. She urged the federal government of Somali and the regional State to invest the country’s sport which is now recovering from years of conflicts.

Somali FA vice president, Abdullahi Sheik Nur, said it was a great pleasure for his federation to inaugurate the development courses in the Puntland State. “Now we have an interim regional football association here in Puntland which will be in office for one year before we hold the first local football election in the Puntland state” the SFF vice president noted.

Somali FA senior vice president, Ali Abdi Mohamed, said it was the first time that the SFF organizes development courses for 85 people at the same time and in the same place. He said it was SFF’s commitment to expand football into every tinny village in the country, adding that the courses were part of his federation’s [Spread the football] initiative. He praised the minister of sport of the Puntland State for developing a very healthy relationship and cooperation with the Somali Football Federation.

The minister for youth and sport of the Puntland State of Somalia Mr. Abdirahman Sheik Ahmed said that having qualified referees, coaches and football administrators had meant a lot to his region.

“I take this opportunity to say a big thanks to Somali Football Federation for making our dreams true” the minister said before inviting the microphone to the president of the Puntland State of Somalia Abdiweli Mohamed Ali to close the week-long development program. The president said that it was a very great pleasure for him to attend such high profile football gathering. “While I was young, football coaches and referees were old men, but today I am very happy to see these young age football coaches and referees. It is really an amazing experience for me and it is a very good initiative to have these young faces in action” Mr. Ali said in his closing remarks.

“My particular thanks are due to Somali Football Federation for educating people and creating this great opportunity for the youths. Football is development. It generates progress and public integration. Imagine these 85 young people from different regions didn’t know each other before, but now they are friends and they believe they are from the same family which is the football family” the president of the Puntland State of Somalia Abdiweli Mohamed Ali, said before announcing the conclusion of the development courses.