A colourful ceremony which intended present the equipment
to the regional football boss was held at Stadium Banadir on the eve of Jeenyo
United-Horseed FC clash which ended in 4-2 in favour of Jeenyo On Tuesday.
"On the behalf of the football committee and the entire
people in the southern Lower Jubba region I am very grateful to Somali Football
federation authorities for the generous donation and I testify that SFF was
fully committed to promoting football both in our region and the entire country”
Lower Jubba football committee chairman Mr Burhan Mahmoud Hassan told the media
during the equipment presentation ceremony on Tuesday.
"For the past several days I have had lengthy meetings with
SFF executive committee members and I would like to tell with a loud voice that
their generosity will not only be confined to the equipment we are receiving here
today, but more other developmental steps will follow” the regional football
committee boss told the ceremony.
Mr Burhan noted that with the help of Somali Football
Federation, his committee will prioritise to work on a sudden recovery of football
in the former Islamist stronghold region which is currently emerging from
decades-long civil wars.
The president of Somali Football Federation Ali Said
Guled Roble for his part said that the SFF was fully jubilant at the return of football
influence into the region which was once well known for its great role in
Somalia’s regional tournament just nearly 30 years ago.
"Lower Jubba region had played a key role in the
promotion of the country’s football and in particularly the regional
competitions, so glancing back to the past history we want you to be an icon of
progress for the region and the SFF will always be along your side in all
endeavours toward football promotion” President Ali Said Guled Roble told the
visiting regional football committee Boss Mr Burhan Mahmoud Hassan.
Meanwhile, Somali Football Federation Secretary General Abdi Qani Said Arab emphasized that the generous
donation was part of the SFF’s ‘spread the game’ initiative which is intended
to get every Somali child involved in football as the country is now emerging
from decades of lawlessness.
"One cannot develop something unless he or she has the
proper office equipment and the other materials needed for accomplishing the
day-to-day tasks and that is why the SFF was prioritising to equip the regional
football committee offices” Secretary General Abdi Qani Said Arab said in a separate
press statement on Tuesday.
"The equipment
given to the regional football committee include: mini footballs and other
materials which are important for the grassroots development program which will
soon start in the city of Kismayo, the provincial capital of Lower Jubba region”
Mr Abdi Qani Said Arab said in his statement.
The SFF Secretary General noted that the southern Lower
Jubba region was an example for the rest regions in the country which are
expected to follow by electing their local football committees.
"The election they made was a tangible move forward and
in return for that the Somali Football Federation is fully committed to helping
the elected regional authorities promote football in the whole region—We are
once again urging other regions in the country to follow such good example”
Secretary General Abdi Qani Said Arab explained in his press statement on
Tuesday.
Somali
Football Federation Media Department
Email:somalifootballmedia@gmail.com