The cleaning campaign which followed the recent vacation
of African Union Peace keepers from the national football facility is part of a
huge government-lead program which is aimed at the renovation of the stadium after
many years of serving as a military base for African Union peace keepers in
Somalia (AMISOM).
The cleaning campaign was participated by volunteers
including, government officials, local footballers and members of Somali
expatriate football team who are in the country on an invitation to play
friendly matches with four Somali Premier League giants.
"The cleaning campaign led by our minister of sport honorable Khadija Mohamed Diriye is meant to pave the way for the near future renovation of the stadium as promised by prime minister Hassan Ali Khayre. With the help from our minister, the SFF is going to make arrangements for the near future use of the facility, as long as AU troops have now vacated” Somali Football Federation president Abdiqani Said Arab, told journalists after taking part in Tuesday’s cleaning campaign at Stadium Mogadishu.
"The cleaning process is now in its final stage, as all
the trees which grew in the facility have now been removed. We are looking forward
to seeing Stadium Mogadishu hosting football matches in the near future, the
government is drawing special program for the facility and I am thankful to the
minster for youth and sport honorable Khadija Mohamed Diriye for such a great
work” Somali Football Federation president Abdiqani Said Arab told journalists.
On her side, minister for youth and sport Honorable
Khadija Mohamed Diriye said that Stadium Mogadishu was once one of the most
beautiful sporting facilities in African and the middle east adding that Somali
government is committed to ensuring that Stadium Mogadishu be returned to its
normality to be able to host local and international football competitions.
"For many years, Stadium Mogadishu has experience the
most difficult times in its history. The terrible conditions that Stadium
Mogadishu underwent left much sorrow in the hearts of millions of Somalis, but
now we are fully pleased as the facility in back into the hands of the people
and will be used for the purpose it was built for” minister for youth and sport
Honorable Khadija Mohamed Diriye, said.
However, for the past five years Somali Football
Federation has been demanding for the troop with drawl from the Stadium which
finally is fully returned into the hands of the people
Somali
Football Federation Media Department
Email:info@somsoccer.com