The announcement comes after two delegations sent by Somali
Football Federation to Jubbaland and South West States in a bid to evaluate the
state of football in those regions reported major football development needs. The
first phase of the assessment missions which continued from 13-16 March 2019
were carried out by two SFF secretariat members, Jamal Hashi and Mohamed Jabane.
The conducting of the surveys was ordered by the
president of Somali Football Federation Abdiqani Said Arab based on the development
programs approved during SFF executive committee last month. The main objective
for the surveys was to study the needs for football development in the regions
and see the level of football in every state.
During the four-day surveys, SFF delegates toured football facilities and offices of the regional football associations to evaluate whether there are fully-functioning offices with the proper office equipment and that regional office bearers are regularly on duty.
Jubbaland
State Survey
In Jubbaland, the main football facility Waamo Stadium hosts local football league and has the artificial football turf, but the stadium has no tribute and the VIPS position needs much reconstruction from the very bottom. It doesn’t have proper dressing rooms and as well as the playing field needs security fencing.
In terms of football knowledge, the survey found out that
the region needs additional trainings and seminars including: refereeing,
coaching and football administration courses. The offices of the region’s
football association are in operation, but are poorly equipped which means they
need the proper office equipment and as well as furniture.
South
West State
In South West State, there is no proper football stadium. The ground is there but it doesn’t have the artificial turf and as well as there are no toilets, no dressing rooms and the players are seen dressing up in front of the spectators. The region has football teams, but the teams are ill-equipped and they need proper football equipment, as the region is preparing to organize its football league very soon. In terms of knowledge, the region hugely needs regular capacity building programs including refereeing, coaching and football administration courses.
"This region needs special consideration and the SFF is committed to quickening the organization of the education courses. We want each regional state to be able to organize their activities independently” Somali Football Federation vice president for regional development, Abdullahi Sheik Noor, said. "South West’s main football facility should soon be reconstruction and the artificial turf has to be installed, because without having those in place, it will be impossible to technically developed footballers” Mr. Abdullahi Sheik Noor added.
Meanwhile, the president of Somali Football Federation,
Mr. Abdiqani Said Arab, added that the second phase of the regional football
development needs assessments will focus on three federal states, Puntland, Gal-Mudug
and Hir-Shabelle.
"In April, we are planning to carry out surveys in those
three states as part of our football development assessment programs for all
regions and based on our findings, we will then be able to have full
understanding on what we have to do and where we are to target one after the
other” president Abdiqani Said Arab, said.
"According to the development programs approved by the
executive committee in February, the development programs set for regions
include, the renovation of football facilities and the installation of artificial
turf on a number of grounds and on top of that capacity building activities
including refereeing, coaching and football administration courses will be organized
in all regions in 2019” Somali Football Federation president explained.
FIFA still remains the sole source of income for Somali
Football Federation and all these development programs will be financed through
the FIFA Forward program FIFA, as Somali Football Federation doesn’t get any
financial assistance from government and doesn’t have local sponsors as well.
"We only count on FIFA and we expect from them to give a
particular consideration to Somalia. Thanks to FIFA for all you were and still
doing for Somali Football” president Abdiqani Said Arab noted.
Somali
Football Federation Media Department
Email:info@somsoccer.com