Football Development Courses Conclude in Himand and Heeb State

By Shafi'i Mohyaddin Abokar

Authorities in the semiautonomous Somali regional state of Himand and Heeb have shown an enormous admiration for football, as the Somali Football Federation (SFF) has successfully concluded refereeing and coaching courses in the region's provincial capital Adado as part of the SFF campaign under the slogan of 'SPREAD FOOTBALL THROUGHOUT SOMALIA'.

To end the five-day long courses, Somali Football Federation Secretary General Abdi Qani Said Arab told the media the courses were the second edition of the 'spread football campaign' whose first edition was carried out in the semiautonomous state of Gal-Mudug in April 2012.

"In a bid to enhance football promotion in Somalia, the Somali Football Federation by the end of 2011 launched a development team called SFF flying group which composes of referee instructors, coaching instructors, secretariat and the media department which is always standby to move to anywhere in Somalia to carry out the development programs," secretary General Abdi Qani Said Arab told the media.

Mr. Arab noted that Somali Football Federation and the Himan and Heeb administration collaboarted in the successful implementation of the development courses.

"The SFF covered the expenses of the teaching materials, travel costs of the local instructors and SFF officials plus the allowances of trainees. While the Himan and Heeb administration covered, security expenses and the accommodation. We are very thankful to the regional state for accepting to host our courses," said the SFF secretary General adding that the SFF was hopeful to organize such courses in the south-western regions bordering with Ethiopia and the southern town of Kismayo by April 2013.

The president of the Himan and Heeb semiautonomous regional state Mohamed Abdullahi Aden Tiicey who was honoured to conclude the courses said his regional administration was very grateful to Somali Football Federation for 'sweetening' football for his region.

"I am sure that your courses have given our region a huge publicity and also increased the admiration of our people for football, because they have felt the sweetness of football for the community," president Tiicey told the Somali Football Federation officials at the conclusion ceremony Saturday.

The Somali Football Federation said 20 football referees and 20 coaches from different cities and towns in the regional state have benefitted from the development courses which run from October 30 to November 3 2012.

Somali Football Federation technical director Awil Ismail Mohamed has conducted the coaching course. Referee instructors Ali Mohamed Ahmed and Hassan Mohamed Mahmoud, both former international referees facilitated the refereeing course.