In an interview with the CECAFA Media department, Mr El
Shenawi also explained about how he found Somalia, the difference between what
he experienced and what he believed about Somalia before arriving in Mogadishu.
"I always heard in the news that Somalia was no go area, but when I came and toured around many beautiful sites including the Lido Beach resort of Mogadishu, I really found out that Somalia was nicer than I expected and I had enjoyed the beautiful weather” FIFA expert Ahmed El Shenawi said.
He went on to say that he met many football volunteers
who received him with good behaviour and extended high profile reception during
his stay in the country.
Changes
made by the refereeing department
Speaking about the progress made by the Somali Football
federation refereeing development department, Mr Ahmed El Shenawi said that
Somali referees completely changed in terms of physical structures, endurance and
as well as experience.
"Several times we did such course in Djibouti and to my
experience we had only 5% of the trainees passed in fitness tests, but now I am
very happy that I have witnessed them pass 100%--it is not me who did that job,
but I would like to praise instructor Abdi Abdulle Ahmed who is to be
attributed to that major approach of success” expert Ahmed El Shenawi told in
his interview with CECAFA Media.
He said that local instructor and former
international football referees Abdi Abdulle Ahmed (Baasaale) who did the
fitness lessons was well experienced and had played his role professionally
adding he was very sure that now Somalia has at least one fitness instructor
who can do such international level even.
"Generally I was satisfied with the referees’ class
attendance and their participation of fitness sessions and I can say that
Somalia was on the way to culminate in a higher development of football” FIFA
expert Ahmed EL Shenawi noted during the interview.
Somalia
and world cup officiating hopes.
After decades of setbacks caused by lawlessness
in the country, FIFA refereeing expert Ahmed El Shenawi hoped that Somalia will
soon have its international referees to officiate big events like FIFA world
cup.
"The correct time has now arrived and Somalia
have the correct people, so I am fully hopeful that Somali soccer referees will
be able to officiate FIFA world cup matches in the years to come—I am saying
this because of what I have witnessed” the expert said.
History
rewrites back.
Somalia had its last FIFA level refereeing
course organized in the country 25 years ago and it was conducted by Mustafa
Kamil of Egypt and for that reason Ahmede El Shenawi believed that his arrival
in Mogadishu had rewritten a past history.
"Before the collapse of Somalia, the last FIFA
expert to conduct a refereeing course in Somalia was Mustafa Kamil (Egypt) and
fortunately 25 years later, it is me another Egyptian who arrived here for the
same event to reopen the door for the arrivals of more FIFA refereeing experts
in the country” El Shenawi said.
"In fact, the history had rewritten with my
arrival here—it is a unique success for both Mustafa Kamil and for me” FIFA
expert Ahmed El Shenawi said before his departure from Mogadishu’s Aden Abdulle
International airport on Friday 25th of April 2014.