As part of its efforts to develop football from the bottom, the Djibouti Football Federation has on Tuesday concluded a ten day-long FIFA Grassroots coaching course which was the first of its kind that the world Football governing body FIFA holds for the football growing horn of African country.

Young age coaches from across the country took part in the historic FIFA grassroots course which was co-hosted by all regions in the country, in a bid to sweeten football for school children in different regions. The trainees include some from schools in the country who were taught how to educate children under football.

The president of Djibouti Football federation Mr Souleiman Hassan Waberi who addressed at the conclusion ceremony on Tuesday said that his federation was very grateful to FIFA for helping the realisation of his country’s long-term dreams for getting such high profile course hosted in the country for the first time in Djibouti’s football history.

"Our intention was that children in all regions benefit from the course so, we hosted it as a mobile course in different regions---for three days in Obock and Tadjourah and as well as Ali Sabieh, Dikhil, Djibouti and Arta for three days in each two regions, while we are now holding the conclusion ceremony here in Djibouti” president Souleiman Hassan Waberi said Tuesday.

The course ran from 2-11 February 2014 and was conducted by FIFA instructor Jamal Lahraj of Morocco. Addressing at the closing ceremony the instructor praised Djibouti for its preparation for the course and commitment to football promotion.

Representative from the ministry of education Mr Abdi Dirir and representative from the ministry of Sport Mr. Houssein kahye attended Tuesday’s closing ceremony of the First ever FIFA Grassroots coaching course for Djibouti.

However, later on the day, the Federation organized a festival which involved over 120 children from regions across the country. The event was intended to mark the end of the ten-day marathon tasks which started on the 2^nd of February.

The grassroots development, the revival of women’s involvement in football and the implementation of beach soccer in the country were among the promises made by President Souleiman Hassan Waberi during a post election press conference on the 10^th of November 2012. All those dreams were realised by the young age president and his committee.

Somali Football Federation Media department

Email:somalifootballmedia@gmail.com