Top Somali government officials including law makers,
Somali Football Federation executive committee members, the country’s most
renowned football legends, representatives from top business companies and
other honourable guests have attended a colourful ceremony which intended to
mark on the launching of the country’s most populous sporting competition.
Somali Football Federation Secretary General Abdi qani
Said Arab who first addressed at the opening ceremony said that it was a very
gear honour for Somali Football Federation to launch SFF’s top competition at
such international class facility thanking the world’s football governing body
for helping Somali league get this international style stadium.
It was in 2006 when Banadir Stadium hosted the last
football league. The facility was ill-equipped
the time.
On behalf of the entire Somali football family members,
SFF secretary General Abdi Qani Said Arab said that Somalia was very grateful
to FIFA whose without assistance nothing would have been possible for Somalia
in terms of the promotion of football in this war-devastated country.
"FIFA had carried out two main projects here, one is the Artificial
Turf installation which was done under ‘Win in Africa with Africa’ project and
the reconstruction of the VIP section of the facility which is still under
process---we thank FIFA president Blatter and his executive committee for
helping Somalia in such difficulty circumstances” secretary General Abdi Qani
Said Arab emphasized.
"I would like to take this opportunity to thank Nation
Link Telecom Somalia, for its acceptance to financially assist Somalia’s league”
noted the secretary General adding that from today the league will be called as
‘Nation Link Telecom Championship 2013.
He said that after prolonged talks between the Network
Company and Somali Football Federation executive committee, the Nation Link
Telecom accepted to financially help the competition which instead of that will
take the company’s name. He said that during the competition Nation Link
Telecom will cover all expenses.
"Nation Link has been encouraging Somali football since 2006 and as Somali Football Federation authorities, we are very grateful to them for their encouragement and support to Somali Football” Secretary General Abdi Qani Said Arab said adding that Nation Link Telecom had financially helped the regional football for peace tournaments held in Jowhar in 2008 and that of Garowe in 2010.
"We call on other companies to follow behind Nation Link’s
footsteps and I declare here with a loud voice that Somali Football is open to
other commercial companies both locally and internationally---football is a
tool of peace building in Somalia and we welcome whoever is interested in
taking part in such major search for stability through football for peace”
Secretary General Abdi Qani Said Arab said during his opening remarks.
"This will be a good start to get Somali business companies
understand the importance of football in terms of the promotion of their
businesses and I hope that more other companies will join us” secretary General
Abdi Qani Said Arab stated during his address.
On the behalf of Somali government, the director Aweys
Sheik Haddad who addressed the launching ceremony praised Somali Football Federation
for the unprecedented move forward which he said was helping peace and
development in the country.
"Today is a great day, it is a day of progress, it is a
day of hopes and it is a very huge honour for Somali government and the entire
people of Somalia that our football league is being exhibited at this very
beautiful stadium which Somalia had never had before—as a government we praise FIFA
and Somali football Federation for the unique move” the director stated.
He said that Somali Football Federation has done a very
fantastic job for the country, adding that the history of Somalia will always
be mentioning SFF’s great role in peace building and development of football
throughout the country.
Mr Aweys added that his ministry was happy with the growing
cooperative ties it developed with Somali Football Federation which he said was
a powerful organ within the country’s sporting organizations that is capable of
attracting the attention of hundreds of thousands of people at one time.
Somali Football federation President Ali Said Guled Roble,
said that Somali Football’s long-existed dreams have come true with Somalia’s
most interested sporting competition being played at a sophisticated facility.
"2013 is a great year for Somalia, because in August we
held the grass roots course which was the first ever of its kind that Somalia gets
from FIFA and today we are opening the Nation Link Telecom 2013 championship at
such beautiful stadium” the SFF president said in his address thanking FIFA for
its support and financial assistance.
He also praised the local and international media for their
full coverage of Somalia’s football activities. "The friendly media are praise
worthy and we believe the media are playing an important role in the
encouragement of the promotion of football in Somalia” SFF president Ali Said
Guled Roble mentioned in his opening address.
"Football is the people’s choice; it is all about peace,
development and public integrations, we love our football fans of whom some have
arrived from so far distances, so I however encourage them to show calmness and
help us all enjoy in very cheerful and stable watching during all matches”
President Ali Said Guled Rtoble said told the ceremony before announcing the
competition was open.
However, Heegan FC thrashed their Gaadiidka rivals by 3-2
in Friday’s hotly-contested opening match. According to the schedules of the competition
Horseed will take on Dekedda on Sunday. This is will be the sole Sunday shown
in the fixtures.
Somali Football Federation Media Department
Email:somalifootballmedia@gmail.com