A high profile delegation of four strong development officers from the world football governing body FIFA has concluded a five-day long assessment trip to the horn of African football growing nation of Djibouti declaring their satisfaction with the tangible football progress and commitment of FDF authorities.
During the
historical visit, the strong FIFA delegation held meetings with Djibouti Football
Federation officials, key government ministers, sports media and club
authorities.
In a
press statement issued at the Djibouti Football Federation headquarters here in
the capital Djibouti on Saturday, President Souleiman Hassan Waberi, himself a
FIFA commissioner has outlined the importance of the FIFA delegation visit to
his country and what has been done during their stay in the country between 13th-17th of May.
"It was on 13th of May when the Djibouti Football
Federation (FDF) welcomed at its premises a delegation of four memnbers from
FIFA to launch the "PERFORMANCE" in the FIFA program to improve
capabilities of FDF in technical, administrative, communication and marketing,
as well as governance” president Souleiman said in his press statement Saturday.
The visit
was the first of its kind by such FIFA delegation to Djibouti and was part of
the FIFA Performance program which the world body carries out in every
affiliated nation when a new football federation president comes to power in a
bid to assess the ongoing football development programs, how its secretariat
and sub committees do accomplish their day-to-day office duties.
The
performance program also aims to assess the cooperation between federations and
governmental authorities in particularly the cooperation with the ministry for
youth and sports.
The
presidential statement declared the FIFA delegation members as Mr. Francesco
Bruscoli - Program Director for Africa, Mr. Diamil Faye-Performance Consultant and Coordinator
for Djibouti, Mr. Malouche
Belhassen, FIFA Instructor and Mr. Oliver Jung, project coordinator for Africa.
"After
a detailed analysis of the current situation of football in Djibouti and its
management, the FIFA delegation has declared to be pleasantly surprised by the
quality of the administration's efforts and achievements of the National
Technical Director and commissions such as women's soccer, beach competitions
or commissions disciplines and remedies that have produced a very productive
work” president Souleiman Hassan Waberi noted in his press statement Saturday.
During
meetings with business partners, the Secretary of State for Youth and Sports sport Mr. Badoul
Hassan Badoul and the Minister of
Education Dr Djama Elmi okieh the FIFA
delegation has also confirmed their interest, as well as private sector leaders
to support the promotion and development of football in Djibouti.
The
statement added that the high level FIFA delegation also held a plenty of
meetings with football club authorities and key local football players to have
a real idea of the current difficulties and measure untapped potential.
Moreover, during the work of synthesis of 17 May, the
FIFA delegation has long traded with the director of the FDF Committee before a
long series of recommendations is adopted.
These
recommendations include:
1- The
need to reform, from the 2013-2014 season to the championship of the cadets.
The teams first and second division will integrate well, for starters, U15 and
U 17 teams in their structure and participate in the new league to be launched
by the FDF;
2- Urged
the state to financially support the development of football in Djibouti
especially in support of national teams.
3- The
FDF is asked to implement initiatives to attract private funds to meet its
growing needs and this requires communication strategies and marketing.
4- A
recommendation was also made for the establishment by 2014 of national league
competitions to manage the first second and third divisions.
5- The
delegation urged local media to do a better coverage of local competitions and
activities being done by FDF to support the current efforts of the FDF.
6- Finally,
FIFA members said they were very delighted with the cooperation between FDF and
the Radio & Television of Djibouti which intends to sign a partnership
agreement with the FDF for better visibility of Football.
Somali Football Federation Media Department
Email:somalifootballmedia@yahoo.com