Somali FA opens training course for 50 future referees
In a bid to increase the quality and quantity of Somali soccer referees, the Somali Football Federation on Wednesday opened a refereeing course for young men who are expected to beSomalia’s future football referees.
A highly arranged ceremony intended to mark on the launching of the course has been held at the Sahafi International Hotel in Mogadishu in the presence of high profile Somali football Federation dignitaries.
Chairman of Somali Football Federation referees committee Osman Jama Dira who first addressed at the launching ceremony of the course said that his department is giving a particular consideration to the refereeing sector which is a very important organ in the Somali Football family.
Secretary General Abdi Qani Said Arab said that the new referees were registered from high schools and universities in the country because he said the SFF’s new policy is to have well-educated referees in the near future.
“Today I am very happy to see these new educated faces who want to be future football referees—now football needs educated people and it is you who are wanted to be future football bearers” the secretary General told the ceremony directing his speech to the future referees.
He said that Somali Football Federation had termed this year as the year of educational enhancement and that is why the refereeing, coaching and administrative courses are being held one after another.
“Football brings people together, because you didn’t know each other before this morning and now you are friends in football, also you didn’t know us before, but from know on you are the ones who are wanted to be our successors, I mean you will be football referees and after retiring some of you will be trainers or will join the SFF administration” the secretary General stated.
On behalf of Somali Football Federation president Said Mahmoud Nur welcome the young men to the Somali Football Family and urged them to take advantage form this golden opportunity extended to them by the SFF.
“Refereeing is a very hard job, because when you are a referee you a judge, not only for the two teams playing at the moment, but also for the thousands of spectators at the stadium and that is why I am telling you that refereeing is a very hard job” the president told the new faces.
“Early this month we have closed a FIFA level course for 30 coaches and in September we will open such refereeing courses in central and north eastern Somalia—this means that a very huge job is being done and you are wanted to take your turn” the president told the ceremony during his opening remarks.
The course is being conducted by former international referees and current national instructors: Aweys Ahmed Jimaale, Abdi Abdulle Ahmed, Hassan Mohamed Mahmoud , Saa’id Mohamed Abokar, and Salad Osman Mohamed, while former international referee and current SFF education officer Ali Mohamed Ahmed is co-coordinating the course.
By Shafi’i Mohyaddin Abokar
