Football growth in Somalia, cheers minister of Sport

Somalia has put violence behind and there is a clear expectation in the country, where football is fully recovering from decades of conflicts and unrest.

The Somali minister for youth and sport, Mohamed Abdullahi Hassan, has commended the growth of football and soccer-related development projects in the country.

“In recent years, we have witnessed huge development projects implemented by the Somali Football Federation, and I take this opportunity to thank SFF for knowing their responsibilities and as well as FIFA for its continued assistance to the country” the minister said.

The minister made the comment, during an official working visit to the under construction Somali University Stadium at the invitation from Somali Football federation President, Abdiqani Said Arab, over the weekend.

“I believe that Somali Football Federation has played a big role in football promotion in the country. The SFF has done its utmost to make sure that Somalia enjoys international stander facilities” the minister explained during a press conference at the under construction facility.

“Football is life; I am saying this, because it brings together some key things which are basic for the human life such as: generating income, public integration, development and health” the minister explained.

He said that having such world stander facilities will help Somali Football Federation produce more and more young talented footballers.

Somali Football Federation president, Abdiqani Said Arab, accompanied by his deputy Ali Abdi Mohamed and secretary General, Hassan Mohamed Mohamud, said that the main purpose for the minister’s invitation to the site was to update him on the ongoing development projects.

President Abdiqani Said Arab, asked the minister to push for the withdrawals of African Union troops from the country’s national facility, Stadium Mogadishu, a request that the minister fully lauded, promising that his ministry will work harder to get the facility back into the hands of the people.

During the official tour to the site, the minister and SFF officials have listened to reports by experts from the consultant company, TALOSAN and the construction company EMECO, who told them that the two projects at the site have been completed by 70% and the rest will be completed before the end of the year.