Somali Sports Minister Mourns Death of Sporting Leaders

By Shafi'i Mohyaddin Abokar

The minister for youth and Sports in Somalia Mohamed Mohyaddin Sheik Mursal has expressed sadness over the sudden death of Somali National Olympic committee President Aden Hajji Yeberow and the Somali Football Federation President Said Mahmoud Nur who were killed in a suicide attack in Mogadishu on Wednesday.

"I really became very shocked and sad when I heard the sad news of the death of the beloved colleagues of Somali sports. It was a shocking matter for not only the Somali NOC and its Federations, but for the sports minister and for all Somali people," the Somali minister for youth, sport and labor Sheik Mursal said.

Mr. Mursal said he missed two great colleagues at one time. The other sad thing is that his friends died during his absence an missed their funerals as well.

The minister is currently in Saudi Arabia on a work trip.

"On behalf of Somali government, I am sending my heart-felt sympathy to the world of sport and in particular to the Somali NOC, Somali FA and the families, children and all friends of our lost colleagues," the minister said in his condolence message to Somali National Olympic committee and Somali Football Federation.

The deadly suicide attack claimed by Al-shabaab militants who early this year turned into 'Al-Qaeda in the east Africa' was carried out by a female suicide bomber who blew herself up at the Somali National theatre where many leaders were invited to the first anniversary of the re-launch of the Somali government television after more than twenty years of absence.

Shafi'i Mohyaddin Abokar is the NewsBlaze Somalia reporter. Contact him through NewsBlaze. Read more stories by Shafi'i Mohyaddin Abokar.