The president made the announcement during
his visit to the FIFA-rebuilt facility ‘stadium Banadir’ where he enjoyed watching
of a hotly-contested football match on Tuesday afternoon. Somali Football federation president Ali Said
Guled Roble and Secretary General Abdi Qani Said Arab welcomed the nation’s
president Professor Hassan Sheik Mahmoud to the stadium where they invited him
to kick the first ball of Tuesday’s Jeenyo –Elman FC clash before a major audience.
"Football is a huge sign for peace and youth development
in Somalia, I see some tangible progresses like the ongoing football league
which is taking place at such beautiful facility—I would like to thank FIFA for
this unique outcome” noted Somali President Professor Hassan Sheik Mahmoud who
also praised the Somali Football Federation for accomplishing much more than can
be done in such war-devastated country.
"On behalf of the nation of I am sending a
message of goodwill and gratefulness to FIFA president Joseph S. Blatter and
his executive committee through Somali Football Federation, as a government we believe
that FIFA and SFF had played a key role in peace building and development in
the country” Somali President Professor Hassan Sheik Mahmoud emphasized.
The president termed Somali FA as ‘the sole’
organization which had carried out very positive
development programs in the country,
adding that his government was fully appreciating the SFF’s wide range of tasks
being done in the country.
"As president of the nation of Somalia, I am
ready to help Somali Football Federation volunteers reach their target for
culminating in higher football progress, youth development and spread messages
of peace through their football for peace programs across the country”
president Hassan Sheik Mahmoud told during his visit to Stadium Banadir on
Tuesday 19th of November 2013.
Professor Mahmoud became the first Somali
president to attend the country’s top level league in nearly 30 years. Somali Football Federation President Ali Said
Guled Roble, Secretary General Abdi Qani Said Arab and the entire SFF executive
committee members thanked the president for devoting his expensive time to come
to the stadium and watch football match among thousands of football fans.
Somali Football Federation Media Department
Email:somalifootballmedia@gmail.com