Somali Football Federation has on Saturday (February, 6) launched three
football development courses in the semiautonomous Somali state of
Puntland, North east of the country.

The courses which are part of SFF’s regional football development scheme
through the [Spread the football] initiative, have gathered 85 trainees
who are 40 referees, 30 coaches and 15 football administrators from
regions in the semiautonomous Somali state of Puntland.

The program is meant to pave the way for the country’s first ever regional
football leagues which as planed will be launched in the 2nd half of 2016
and will take place in all regional states in the country.

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 just a year ago.

Secretary General of the Puntland Branch football association, Abdulkader
Ali Dahir, who first addressed at the launching ceremony of the development courses, said that Somali FA had spent a plenty of efforts, time and money to organize the development courses.

He urged the trainees to give much attention to the lessons being
delivered during the courses.

“These courses are very much important for the development of our football, so I urge you to concentrate on your
lectures. When you are all back to your respected districts, we expect you
to act as ambassadors in the field of developing the game” Mr. Dahir told
the trainees during his address on Saturday.

On his side, the chairman of the football association in the Puntland Branch, Mr. Abdishakur Mohamed Yusuf, said that the development courses will play a big role in the the region’sfootbal promotion, adding that through the beautiful game, his association will give the youths awareness against the dangerous trips which left thousands of youths death in the Mediterranean Sea over the years.

Somali Football Federation education officer, Ali Mohamed Ahmed, who
addressed at the launching ceremony of the program, 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” SFF education officer, Ali Mohamed Ahmed,
said in his address.

Somali NOC executive committee member, Fadumo Ali Nur, said she was very happy to be witnessing the launching 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.

Director General of the Puntland ministry of sport, Ahmed Abdalla, thanked Somali Football Federation for the development of football throughout the country, adding that his ministry will join hands with SFF in its efforts to develop the game.

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 adding that the program was to pave the way for the
upcoming regional football leagues in the country.

“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.

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.

Finally the minister for youth and sport of the Puntland State of Somalia
Mr. Abdirahman Sheik Ahmed urged the participants to benefit from the
courses before announcing that the three development program was open.

Collins Okinyo

Ex- CAF Media Expert. An expert on African football with over 15 years experience ,always with an ear to the ground with indepth knowledge of the game. I have worked for top publications including 7 years at www.supersport.com until i founded www.soka25east.com to quench the thirst of football lovers across the continent. I have trained young upcoming journalists who are now a voice in African football.I have covered World Cup,AFCON,CHAN,Champions League,Confederations Cup,Cecafa,Cosafa,Wafu and many other football tournaments across the World. Founder Football Africa Arena(FAA),Founder www.afrisportdigital.com