“I was not aware of the curfew, because it was not declared before time—as I was going on the way I saw soldiers surrounding me and they beat we not asking me who I am” Shafi’i told the media in Mogadishu on Saturday.

“I told them that I am a sports journalist and came from my office, but they didn’t listen to me—they beat me and then let me go after holding me for more than half an hour” Shafi’i said.

“Run toward your front not looking at any where” they ordered me. Somali Sports Press Association President Abdi Aziz Godah Barre has vehemently condemned the assault by Somali government forces on Shafi’i Mohyaddin who is also the chief media officer for Somali Football Federation whose president was killed in a suicide attack in Mogadishu on April 4.

“I call on Somali government and all warring sides in the country to stop violations against media and journalists who are working in the lawless country” the SSPA president said in a statement. Somali government, militants and none-militant Islamists fighting in Somalia similarly cause problems on Journalists including robbery, arrests, torture or most cruelly killings. It was in 2006 when Islamists in Somalia arrested Shafi’i who was accused of writing stories of what they described ‘satanic sport’.

Also Somali government forces arrested Shafi’i and three other journalists in 2008 after government forces raided on Radio Voice of the peace compound in Mogadishu where he was the chief editor at that time.

By Abdi Aziz Godah Barre

SSPA President

Although the last two matches of the championship are to be played on Monday next week, the club’s female coach Fadumo Musse Dirie told a post match press conference on Friday that she had realized winning the trophy.

“I am three points a head the team next to me (Tadjourah) which played all its 18 matches so i won the trophy with 39 points” the female coach told the media after her big success on Friday evening.

The 30 year old women who has been serving as a coach for the past ten years is respected as Djibouti’s first ever female coach who leads a strong division A club in the football history of the east African country.

While talking about women’s football growth in the country Fadumo said that although the women’s football tournament hasn’t been for the past season then he believes that football in the country has grown enough in comparison with how it was 6 years ago.

“Our football federation gives much priority to women’s football and in every year we have two competitions for school girls— At least 20 schools have taken part in the last school girls’ football tournament early this year and it was really a very interesting competition” said the female coach who also teaches football at one of the schools in the city of Djibouti.

“I was the only girl out of 8 children born by my mother, so I grew up with boys and it is same to me if a coach either women or boys” she replied when asked if she had felt shy in her early days of being a coach for boys.

Djibouti FA president Mr. Hussein Fadoul Dabar has presented the equipment to Ahmed Mohamed Sheik who leads the football committee in the breakaway Somali region in a bid to help them develop football there.

“We have nothing to do with politics and Somalis are our brothers everywhere so we are playing our role to help them, and that is why we are giving this equipment today to the football committee in Somaliland” President Fadoul said as he was presenting shipments of football equipment to Ahmed Mohamed Sheik, the boss of football committee in the region.

“Our father, the president of the republic of Djibouti has taught us to help our Somali brothers—as you all know president Ismail Omar Guelleh spends most of his time and energy in looking for a lasting peace to Somalia and following behind his footsteps we must take our turn to help the promotion of football in all regions in that country” the president noted.

For his part the chairman of football committee in Somaliland Ahmed Mohamed Sheik thanked Djibouti FA for its assistance in terms of football promotion in Somaliland. “Djibouti was always helping us and this is what we have been expecting from such brother nation” he emphasized.

He also said his committee was very grateful to Somali Football Federation for its efforts in boosting football knowledge in his region. “Now we have some referees from Somaliland who were trained here for the past week—they have learnt more and I am sure this will sweeten our competitions in Somaliland” Ahmed added.

BY Shafi’i Mohyaddin Abokar

Somali Football federation Secretary General Abdi Qani Said Arab who first addressed at the conclusion ceremony thanked to Allah for the successful course which was the second of its kind ever held for Somalia in the neighbouring Djibouti since the SFF cannot host FIFA instructors in Mogadishu currently because of insecurity.

“The SFF is very much indebted to the world football governing body FIFA for always standing alongside Somalia and we are also very grateful to the government, people and football federation of Djibouti for their tireless efforts to help us—they didn’t only host our course, but they worked hard with us during the consecutive days of the course” the SFF secretary told the closing ceremony before handing over the microphone to the FIFA’s Cairo RDO officer Ahmed El Shenawi.

“On behalf of FIFA under the leadership of Blater, It is a very great honour for me to thank the Djibouti Football Federation for the precious hosting of the Somali course and the great job they are doing with their Somali brothers” El Shenawi said adding that the cooperation between Somali and Djibouti federations was very much appreciated.

“Today I am very happy that we have done a huge job for the past five days—I know it was not a long time, but good job has been accomplished and that was because of the cooperation between both Somali and Djibouti federations, the referees and the FIFA refereeing development office delegation” he noted.

He praised the trainees for showing commitment and dedication during the five day-long course adding he was very hopeful the Somali referees have benefited more from the course.

Somali Football federation senior vice president Ali Said Guled Roble added that Somalia was very grateful to President Joseph s Blater and his world body for giving great attention to the development of Somali Football despite lawlessness in the war-devastated country.

“FIFA is always with us in all difficulties and the Somali Football family is committed to benefiting from the tireless efforts by FIFA to promote a real football in our country” the SFF senior vice president added before handing over the microphage to the president of Djibouti Football federation honourable Hussein Fadoul Dabar who closed the course for Somalia.

President Fadoul thanked the world Football governing body FIFA for its continued efforts for the past 22 years which prevented football in Somalia from collapsing.

“On behalf of Djibouti FA I praise the current Somali Football Federation officials who are working harder amid sadness over the death of former president Said Mahmoud Nur who lent a forceful commitment to the promotion of Somali football” said Fadoul who was described by the SFF officials as another leader of Somali Football Federation.

“Today we are here for the conclusion of your course for which you arrived from Somalia, so we want you to you to pass what you  have learned here to other colleague referees in the country who didn’t get such golden chance” Fadoul told the Somali referees before announcing the closure of the course which was conducted by Ghanaian instructor Joseph Wellington assisted by Tunisian fitness instructor Boubakar Hanash.

“Most referees in the course are very young and I say with a loud voice that Somali Football Federation authorities are praiseworthy for coming with young referees—FIFA is very much interested in the young age referees and it spends hundreds of millions of dollars on the referee development programs world wide” the FIFA instructor told SF Media department prior to the class on Thursday morning.

The FIFA Referees Committee under the chairmanship of Ángel María Villar Llona has confirmed the appointment of 84 officials from 36 countries to officiate at the Olympic Football Tournaments London 2012.

For the men’s competition, 16 referees and 32 assistant referees have been selected from the six Confederations, whilst for the women’s tournament, 12 referees and 24 assistant referees will be on duty.

For the men, London 2012 represents the first step on the road to the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil. Massimo Busacca, Head of FIFA Refereeing explained the concept behind the selection of the officials, having himself refereed at two FIFA World Cups, Euro 2008, and the 2009 UEFA Champions League Final.

“The FIFA Refereeing team works just like the technical staff of a national football team, and we are the Head Coach” said Busacca. In addition, a team of technical instructors – former international referees – fitness instructors, physiotherapists and Sports Scientists (including from F-MARC) will regularly review the best referees before selecting the best possible officials for FIFA’s forthcoming competitions.

The final men’s Olympic berth will be decided on Monday evening when Oman take on Senegal in a play-off at Coventry City. England’s Howard Webb will take charge of this match, with his Assistants Stephen Child and Mike Mullarkey. Martin Atkinson is the Fourth Official.

FIFA’s Head of Women’s Refereeing Sonia Denoncourt knows what it’s like to be in the spotlight herself at major tournaments, having refereed at three FIFA Women’s World Cups and two Olympic Football Tournaments.

“The bulk of the female referees who have been appointed for the 2012 Olympic Games will be familiar faces from last summer’s FIFA Women’s World Cup in Germany and are at the top of their profession” explained Denoncourt.

“Whilst the technical quality in the women’s game has improved massively on the pitch in the last 15-20 years, our responsibility is to ensure the standard of officiating improves at the same time.”

SOURCE FIFA MEDIA

New Somali NOC president Duran Ahmed Farah said in a press statement that the world sport showed solidarity with Somalia adding that the world sport meeting observed a minute of silence in remembrance of the former Somali NOC president Aden Hajji Yeberow and former Somali FA president Said Mahmoud Nur who died in Mogadishu suicide blast on April 4.

He said that the pictures of the late Somali sporting leaders were also presented during the meetings by the world sporting organizations. “The world of sport showed commitment to helping Somalia’s sport promotion” the Somali NOC president said in a statement over night on Tuesday.

“ANOC president Sheikh Ahmed Bin Fahad Al-Sabah also vowed a huge assistance for Somali NOC and he invited us to Kuwait to talk about more on Somali NOC’s current needs and how his country can in particularly assist Somalia—we will visit Kuwait as soon as possible” Mr. Duran added in his statement.

He noted that the Somali delegation also held a lengthy meeting with Chinese minister for sport Lui Ping as both sides discussed on possible Chinese government assistance for Somali sport.

“We asked the Chinese minister that his government rebuild Mogadishu Sports Village which was built by China for Somalia in 1970s and he told us to deliver documents carrying our needs to them and then China will help reconstruct the sports village” the Somali NOC presidential statement said.

“Another historic meeting was that we had with Turkish minister for sport whose government is giving the biggest ever humanitarian assistance to the needy Somali people and he pledged that his government will help the reconstruction of the destroyed sports facilities across the country and more other development aid for Somalia” the Somali NOC chief said in his press statement.

“Amid sadness over the deaths of our friends, Somali NOC and its member federations are committed to promoting sport in the lawless country where the NOC protected sport from destruction for the past 21 years of unrest in the country” the new Somali NOC president’s statement added.

BY Shafi’i Mohyaddin Abokar

The opening ceremony started with praying for the former SFF president Said Mahmoud Nur and former Somali NOC president Aden Hajji Yeberow Wiish who were killed in a suicide attack in Mogadishu earlier in the month.

Somali Football Federation secretary General Abdi Qani Said Arab who first addressed at the opening ceremony thanked the government, people and the football Federation of Djibouti for their precious hospitality and hosting of all Somali courses and home games in their territory.

“Somalia is very much grateful to FIFA who always allowed us to hold our courses and home games where ever we want and this is the country we have preferred because it is our second home land” the Secretary General told the ceremony adding that FIFA had paid great efforts and money to help Somalia football work despite lawlessness and lack of a functioning government in Somalia for more than two decades” the secretary General emphasized.

“On behalf of Somali Football family I announce here in front of you that Somalia was very grateful to the world of sport for sharing with us the sadness over the deaths of our beloved colleagues” he noted adding that the world sport from FIFA, CAF and IOC to the regional body of CECAFA have all showed solidarity with Somalia in all difficulties.

He praised the FIFA instructors and the Cairo RDO officer for coming to teach Somalia for the second time. “The FIFA instructors are not new to us, they have been here with in March 2010—we hope them to be with us during our future courses too” he said adding that his federation was very happy to see such high profile instructors teaching Somali referees again.

FIFA RDO officer in Cairo Ahmed El Shenawi on the behalf of FIFA praised the Djibouti Football Federation for always hosting the Somali courses in its country without any preconditions. “This shows that the bilateral cooperation between the two federations had already grown enough” El Shenawi told the opening ceremony.

He said that FIFA and Somali Football federation had spent much time, energy and money to the implementation of the course as part of the FIFA refereeing development program.

“You arrived from your home to learn and who ever looks for learning will once arrive to the top, so I am encouraging you to do more efforts to reach the highest level as referees—we really appreciate to come to you once again and your authorities told you appreciate us too” El Shenawi added.“ Next year we hope to give you the course in Mogadishu if Allah wills” he said.

The president of Djibouti Football Federation Hussein Fadoul Dabar noted that his federation follows behind the footsteps of Djibouti president Ismail Omar Guelleh who spends most of his time in helping his Somali brothers and looking for lasting peace to the war-devastated nation.

“I think we did nothing for you, because here is your second country and we are fulfilling our duties—feel here as Mogadishu, come and do all you want here” president Hussein Fadoul emphasized.

Somali Football Federation senior vice president Ali Said Guled Roble added that Somalia will always remember the brotherly help from Djibouti in such difficult times.

“The real brother is that shows solidarity with you during hard times” he said thanking the Djibouti FA for the constant hospitality and FIFA for the continuous support to Somalia.

Somalia’s acting ambassador to Djibouti Abdirahman Mohamed Hirabe told the opening ceremony that since April 4 tragedy the government and Football Federation officials in Djibouti have been showing solidarity with his diplomatic mission and were all saddened with the death of Somali sporting officials.

“As I witnessed here in Djibouti everyone was shocked by the sudden death of our colleagues so what I can tell you is that the whole city of Djibouti was mourning for days as Mogadishu did” the acting ambassador noted before announcing the course was open.

FIFA instructor Joseph wellington and FIFA fitness instructor Boubakar Hannachi are conducting at the course while FIFA RDO officer in Cairo Ahmed El Shenawi is inspecting how the course is being implemented.

By Shafi’i Mohyaddin Abokar

“Somali Football Federation gives the first priority to the enhancement of education and in particularly the boosting of refereeing knowledge in the lawless country which has been without a functioning central government for more than two decades”the secretary General told the media.

Somali minister for youth and sports Mohamed Mohyaddin Sheik and key lawmakers have fare welled the referees at Mogadishu’s Aden Adde International airport before flying to Djibouti.

“For the past 21 years Somalia has been the sick man in the world, but in terms of sport we were alive because we participated in all international sports gatherings and I can say that sport had up held the country’s dignity since our country collapsed in January 1991” parliament member and former university lecturer Prof Mohamed Omar Dalha told the delegation of Somali FA officials and referees at Mogadishu airport.

For his part the minister for youth and sports Mohamed Mohyaddin Sheik has praised Somali Football Federation for the great job it has been doing in the war-ravaged country during difficult times.

“Every one of us is still shocked and saddened over the tragedy that killed two leading figures of Somali Sport, but we have to continue the work amid sadness and frustration” the minister said adding that his ministry supports the encouragement and the building of education of the young people with fresh minds.

“Sport is the sole element that can create peace and public integration in our country and we have taken some good examples from the Somali FA’s past activities like the regional tournament for peace and friendship in Garowe in December 2010 or the district level youth football tournament in Mogadishu in December last year” the minister added wishing good travel and successful course for the referees.

By Shafi’i Mohyaddin Abokar