Somali Football Federation- SFF

[Somalina]

The Somali Football Federation and the northeastern semiautonomous region of Puntland on Sunday announced the date to hold the country’s regional football tourney during a meeting between SFF leaders and officials from the region.

At the end of consecutive meetings for the past several days the Somali Football Federation president Said Mahmoud Nur and the regional sports minister Mohamed Nur Hersi jointly announced at a press conference in Garowe late on Sunday that the regional football tournament for peace and development will kick off on 15th of December 2010.

 

The regional tournament will be hosted at the Mire Aware football stadium in the region’s provincial capital of Garowe with the Somali Football Federation president Said Mahmoud Nur describing the move of holding this regional tournament as “tangible and historic”.

 

“The main importance is to develop football in Somali regions and create public integration among the peoples who were disunited in the past twenty years of civil wars in Somalia” the SFF president said in the press conference late on Sunday.

 

 

On behalf of Somali Football Federation I am very grateful to the president of Puntland, his cabinet members and the people in the region for their acceptance to host this big football event in Somalia” the president stated adding that 15 regions will take part in the tourney.

 

For his part Puntland’s sports minister Mohamed Nur Hersi who held a joint press conference with the SFF president said that Somali Football Federation and his regional administration are cooperating on the implementation of this regional soccer tournament.

 

“The Puntland government will be responsible for the reservation and meals of the players and the delegates from regions, healthy care and the security, while the Somali Football Federation will pay for the air fair of players and the delegates fromregions, all football equipments, the precious trophy and rewards” the minister said.

 

He stated that Somali Football Federation will also rebuild the Mire Aware stadium in Garowe where the tournament will be held. “The construction will commence as soon as possible” he added.

 

This year’s soccer regional tournament in Somalia was named after {2010 Regional Football tourney for peace and development} which intended to reunite the peoples who left from each other during years of civil strife in Somalia.

 

Somali Football Media Department

+25250 930226 Office Telephone

+2526 99 969815 Cell phone

+2521 600601 Fax

Email:somalifootballmedia@gmail.com

[Somalina]

http://www.somsoccer.com/english/index.php

[Somalina]

December 24, 2008

 

Somali national football squad has defeated Djibouti’s national soccer team 3-2 in a friendly football match held In Djibouti late on Tuesday.

 

Somali football federation Deputy President Ahmed Nur Hassan Abdulle and general Secretary Abdi Qani Said Arab were among those who watched The very hotly contested and interesting game later on Tuesday.

 

The first half of the game ended 1-0 with Somalia leading as finally the game ended in 3-2 with Somali national team having the upper hand.

 

Somalia’s three goals were scored by Isse Midnimo, Ali Baashi and Ismail Yusuf who have been in Europe for the past few years.

 

The Somali National team has been training in Djbouti for the last three months because of lack of a suitable training center in the capital where the nation’s largest football site Stadium Mogadishu is being used as a military base by hundreds of Ethiopian soldiers while Stadium Banadir is under reconstruction.

 

 

Somali Football press Department

[Showqi]

Congratulations to our National Team, I'am very proud.

[Somalina]

Showqi, our national team ha guuleystaan. The above match was long ago (typo on the date before), nonetheless, xusid uun bey mudnayd.

 

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December 8, 2010

The Somali military team (Horseed) has won the two week-long Futsal for peace competition which was concluded at the Hamar Jajab district stadium on Wednesday afternoon.

Eight 1st division teams took part in the competition, and the Somali military team (Horseed) defeated its Olympic Fitness Centre rivals by 2 goals to nothing during Wednesday’s final match.

Among the high profile sports dignitaries who were watching the final match include: Somali Football Federation president Said Mahmoud Nur, Somali NOC executive committee member Hajji Mohamed Ahmed Olow, Futsal committee chairman Bashir Mahmoud Gesey, Somali Women’s association secretary for sports affairs Deqo Abdullahi Mahmoud and Somali Football Federation member Ali Abdi Mohamed.

Somali Football Federation President Said Mahmoud Nur who delivered a short speech at the cup presentation ceremony held at the stadium after the end of the match congratulated the Somali military team on the success it approached during the tournament.

I wish you a developed sport and victory in your future games” Hajji Mohamed Ahmed Olow told the Horseed team members as he was presenting the cup to its captain.

 

“On behalf of Somali Women, I am very much happy with the sports development activities on going in the country and I tell you with a loud voice that we will take our role in developing the country’s sports” the Somali women’s association representative told the gathering.

 

“Women are the first teachers of every human being and taking advantage from our influence in the community we are encouraging the youths to be very vigilant from taking up arms or falling into other kinds of crimes and instead be sports addicts” Deqo Abdullahi Mahmoud told a gathering most of them youths after the end of the country’s Futsal for peace tournament.

[Somalina]

Nov 1, 2010

 

The 6th championship for Somalia’s 3rd division soccer clubs has officially opened at the open ground of Somali police academy in the lawless capital Mogadishu on Monday.

 

Nine teams are taking part in this championship as the teams of Gasco and Geeska Afrika have clashed in the opening match which ended in 2-2 draw.

 

Gasco’s striker and former shoe shiner Suleyman Mohamed Sheik Ali has scored the two goals for his team and he also became the first goal scorer of the championship.

 

Somali Football Federation vice president Abdullahi Abow Hussein who opened the competition urged the players to exhibit fair play and show politeness during his opening remarks before kick off.

This competition is different from the former matches held by Somali Football Federation and that is because the players representing the participating teams include: school boys, former child soldiers and street boys who were rehabilitated in football for peace programs formerly implemented by Somali Football Federation.

 

Earlier on the day Secretary General Abdi Qani Said Arab said in a press statement that the main importance of the competition is to produce talented young footballers who will represent Somalia in international matches.

 

“Young boys of 15-16 years of age are participating in this competition and that is part of our special programs intended to create young and skilled players who will stand for defending Somalia’s name in international matches” Somali Football Federation secretary General Abdi Qani Said Arab said in his Monday’s press statement.

 

“We have taught the young boys how to play a ball and we guided them from their former life of using drugs and taking up arms, so the Somali Football Federation will request the local and international educational organizations to give them a chance to learn” the secretary General’s statement added.

 

Launched three years ago, the Somali Football for peace project “Put down the gun and the ball project” has yielded very positive results as most of the young boys taking part in the 3rd division championship were rehabilitated in this football for peace project which was the first of its kind ever carried out in war-torn Somalia.

 

[Somalina]

September 7, 2010

 

The Somali National U-20 football squad had spent some two historical weeks in the Eritrean capital Asmara in August 2010 during the CECAFA U-20 tourney for friendship and development held in Asmara August 14-28 2010.

 

The stay in Asmara by the Somali footballers and its high level delegation was described “a historical moment” because it was the first time in Somalia’s football history that a Somali national team plays in Eritrea.

 

Eritrea its self was the first time that it hosted such major football event which was organized by the council of East and Central African football Associations known as CECAFA.

 

 

It was early on Thursday morning about 5:00 AM when the plane carrying the Somali national team landed at Asmara International airport, where the team was frankly received by high level Eritrean football dignitaries lead by football federation President Mr. Tesfaye Gebreyesus.

 

“It is a great day for me to welcome my Somali brothers here in Asmara, I wish you a very lovely stay, feel Eritrea as your second homeland” Eritrean football federation President Tesfaye Gebreyesus told the Somali delegation at Asmara International airport upon arrival.

 

Local journalists were also happy to meet the Somali team in Asmara, according to the boss of Eritrean media Suleyman Osman who was the first journalist to meet the Somali team at Asmara Airport.

 

The atmosphere in Asmara was very cold—it was raining every afternoon and some times it was raining ice.

 

The Somali team was based at a very good hotel {the Savana Hotel} in the city center, where the hospitality, accommodation, the meals and everything were the best.

 

During the opening ceremony of the tourney on August 14, tens of thousands of spectators at the Asmara Stadium all stood and announced (Somalis wake up wake up and unite,always helping week ones among you) . This is the song of Somali national Anthem.

 

To me it was unbelievable matter, because I have never thought that thousands of Eritreans can sing the Somali national anthem , but it really happened.

 

Some high level CECAFA dignitaries were jubilant at how hugely the Eritrean people were supporting the Somali team more than any other national team in the tournament.

 

“The spectators at the stadium could not remain at their seats—every one stood up announcing the name of Somalia, as soon as the Somali team members were entering the field, this was happening every day that the Somali team had a game and that really made me very happy” CECAFA secretary General, a Kenyan national Nicholas Musonye told the Eritrean TV.

 

Musonye also praised Eritrea’s preparations to host the big regional football event which was the first time for this small east African country to host such soccer tournament.

 

 

Amir Abdi Hassan, the Somali team leader and CECAFA finance committee member for his part said that the Friendship tournament in Asmara was bigger than any other regional competition he witnessed in the past in terms of preparations, hospitality and the beautiful opening ceremony.

 

“What we saw in Asmara was unprecedented” Amir Abdi Hassan told journalists on 20th of August, during a visit to the city of Masawa, a good tourist site in Eritrea.

 

Since Somalia has no international flight connections the team transited for three days in Nairobi, where the Somali football family members in Kenya held a very huge dinner ceremony to see off the team, a night before heading to the volatile Mogadishu.

 

The dinner ceremony was co-organized by the Somali football community in Kenya, the administrators of the football clubs of Banadir Telecom, Midnimo FC and the East Leigh stars—a soccer club owned by Somalis living in Nairobi.

 

 

He East Leigh stars became the first Somali-owned football club to participate in the Kenyan soccer league.

 

“Somalia is at war and football is developing in Somalia, I could not believe that such hard work can be done in a war-weary country like Somalia, but it really happened” the chairman of Football Kenya Limited (FKL) in the Nairobi province Mr. Dennis Shilibwa, told the dinner ceremony.

 

 

Mr. Dennis Shilibwa, a close friend of the Somali football family members living in Kenya was honored to address at the dinner ceremony.

 

By Shafi’i Mohyaddin Abokar

 

Somali Football Media Department

[Somalina]

NOV 18, 2010

 

More than 30 Somali football referees of different categories on Thursday morning sat for a four-day training seminar at Mogadishu’ Sahafi International hotel where they will be taking theory lesson for the next three days, while the practice will take place at the Somali Police academy in the afternoons.

 

High profile dignitaries from Somali Football Federation addressed at the opening ceremony of the four-day training workshop which is intended to enhance the knowledge of Somali soccer referees.

 

Somali Football Federation Secretary General Abdi Qani Said Arab who first addressed at the opening ceremony said that the main point of holding this workshop is to develop the referees’ education.

 

“We have three main important objectives from this workshop, the 1st one is to build up the referees’ experience, the 2nd is to distinguish those who are committed to this kind of job from the others and the 3rd is to evaluate the level of each referee” the Somali Football Federation Secretary General Mr. Abdi Qani Said Arab told the opening ceremony Thursday.

 

“Somali Football needs to be fully developed so from now on we have come to decision to increase the refereeing, coaching and the sports medicine seminars and we will spend more than 80% of our capacity and time on this sector” Mr. Abdi Qani said in his opening remarks.

 

He added that each referee will be valued with how hard he works directing his speech to the participants of the workshop.

 

The secretary General said that his federation is responsible for the referees’ healthy care, to find them suitable fields to fulfill their duties, to enhance their education, to give them enough equipment and to create jobs for them adding that any one who fails to accomplish his duty will be deleted from the list of Somali soccer referees.

 

Finally, Somali Football Federation acting president Abdullahi Awow Hussein who addressed at the opening ceremony told the referees that his federation will as much as it can try to enhance their knowledge adding that in return the referees are wanted to have advantage from such hard effort being spent on them.

 

“The referees are a base for the justice so we urge you to make justice when ever you are mediating any game” the acting president said announcing that the workshop is open.

 

Former Somali International football referees and current instructors Hassan Mohamed Mahmoud, Ali Mohamed Ahmed, Hassan Sheylilah Adde and Aweys Ahmed Jimaale are teaching at the four-day workshop which will end on Sunday.

 

[Somalina]

December 21, 2010

 

At the side lines of the long-awaited regional soccer tourney currently taking place in the Puntland State, Somali Football Federation on Tuesday opened a week-long administrative course for football authorities from different regions across the lawless country.

Regional football association presidents, vice presidents and secretariat from all over the country are taking part in the course which will last until Monday next week, according to Somali Football Federation secretary General Abdi Qani Said Arab who is teaching at the course.

 

“As you see we are holding various courses here, such as the coaching course, the refereeing and this administrative course which is beginning today and why we are organizing these courses is only to spread a real football through entire the country and develop your skills in football” President Said Mahmoud Nur of Somali Football Federation told the opening ceremony of the course Tuesday.

 

 

 

"Football developed in this sophisticated world so despite difficulties in Somalia, we are committed to promoting developed football activities in Somalia and we are asking the regional authorities to play their role in spreading football through the country” SFF president stated during his opening address.

 

Somali Football Federation deputy president for regional affairs Abdullahi Awow Hussein for his part said that his department will remain nothing to upgrade knowledge and spread football activities in Somali regions.

 

“We are very grateful to Somali Football Federation for its efforts toward progressing football in regions and for our part we will show our commitment to promoting football in our areas” Galgadud regional football association president Abdirashid Aden Roble (Shigshigow) said on behalf of his colleagues at the course.

 

 

Somalia hasn’t had a functioning central government for the past two decades during which the country’s infrastructures were completely destroyed, but Football has been Somalia’s flag carrier and succeeded to raise the Somali flag over the international football gatherings.

 

The course being taught by Somali Football Federation secretary General Abdi Qani Said Arab is meant to enhance the administrative skills of regional football authorities.

[Somalina]

Somali FA appoints technical and administrative representatives in Europe & North America

 

August 13, 2011

 

In a bid to increase Somali football activities in western nations, the Somali Football Federation has appointed technical and administrative representatives in Europe and North Americawho will work on behalf of the SFF in terms of the promotion of Somali Football in their places.

According to a press statement from Somali Football Federation about 95 percent of the representatives are former coaches and former notational team players whose job is expected to yield positive results for Somalia’s future international football appearances.

 

“The appointment of such representatives is intended to strengthen the cooperation between insiders and Somalis in Western countries so that they will jointly work in the field of Somali Football promotion” the secretary general said in his statement Saturday.

 

Before the end of the year Somalia will have to go thorough hot football contests including the FIFA 2014 preliminary qualifying against the neighbouringEthiopia, the CECAFA senior challenge cup inTanzaniain November and All Arab games in Doha in December this year.

 

“While the National team is currently under going its training sessions in Mogadishu, we want to collect and train young Somali footballers in the west so that they can get a chance to represent their nation—the representatives we have appointed will help the young Somali boys in western nations have their rights to play for their homeland” the Somali Football Federation secretary General Abdi Qani Said in a press statement on Saturday.

 

“It is a great pleasure for Somali Football Federation to inform all talented Somali footballers across Europe and North America who want to represent their nation in world football to contact the appointed authorities whose names and addresses are below” the secretary general noted in his Saturday’s statement.

 

http://www.hiiraan.com/news2/2011/Aug/somali_fa_appoints_technical_and_administrative_representatives_in_europe_north_america.aspx

[Alderman]

Positive news from Somalia for a change! Keep up the good work.

[Somalina]

Somalia soccer seeks Diaspora support

 

Fun is back

 

Middle East Online

By James M. Dorsey

 

 

Somalia, racked by civil war and famine, is seeking soccer players and fan support from the country’s large Diaspora to rebuild shattered infrastructure in advance of 2014 World Cup qualifiers.

 

The recruitment and fundraising campaign follows military setbacks in which the country’s Al Shabab, jihadist insurgents associated with Al Qaeda have lost their control of a majority of the capital Mogadishu to forces of the Transition Federal Government backed by African Union peacekeepers.

 

The campaign takes on special significance because Al Shabab has banned the game as un-Islamic in the chunks of Somalia that it controls. Somalia’s Under-20 soccer team suffered a serious setback in February when a militant Islamist suicide bomber killed one of its star internationals and wounded two other players.

 

Mogadishu’s stadium -- once one of East Africa’s most impressive filled with 70,000 passionate fans during games – was turned into an Islamist training and recruitment center while the jihadists controlled much of the city, reducing the transitional government’s writ to a few blocks around the presidential palace. Included in that writ was the country’s police academy where the national soccer team trained and played matches in mismatched attire on a forlorn patch of earth that is covered with mud, rocks and rusty cans in puddles, and has no goal posts.

 

The Somali Football Federation’s campaign constitutes a major advance in its battle with the jihadists for the hearts and minds of the country’s youth. A federation campaign supported by world soccer body FIFA and local businessmen successfully sought to lure child soldiers with the prospect of a soccer career away from the Islamist militia.

 

The campaign under the slogan ‘Put down the gun, pick up the ball’ challenged the jihadists’ ban on soccer that they enforced with militants in their trademark green jumpsuits and chequered scarves driving through towns in the south of the country in Toyota pickup trucks mounted with megaphones. Families were threatened with punishment if their children fail to enlist as fighters. Boys were plucked from makeshift soccer fields. Childless families were ordered to pay al-Shabab $50 a month, the equivalent of Somalia's monthly per capita income. Local soccer club owners were detained and tortured on charges of misguiding youth.

 

As part of its bid to rebuild infrastructure and prepare for the World Cup qualifiers, the federation has appointed technical and administrative representatives in Europe and North America to promote and garner support for the Somali national team, the federation’s secretary Abdi Qani Said said in a statement.

 

"About ninety-five per cent of these representatives are former coaches and former national team players whose job is expected to yield positive results for Somalia's future international football appearances," Mr. Abdi Qani said.

 

Somalia is scheduled to play Ethiopia in November in the preliminary rounds of the 2014 World Cup. It will also compete in the annual Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA) Senior Challenge Cup in Tanzania and the All Arab Games in Doha in December.

 

Mr. Abdi Qani said the newly appointed representatives would help the federation recruit young Diaspora players who would train primarily in their exile home countries.

 

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James M. Dorsey is a senior fellow at Nanyang Technological University's S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies and the author of the blog, The Turbulent World of Middle East Soccer.