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It was an emotional moment for Somali FA President Abdiqani Said Arab when he was crowned the African Football leader of the year 2015 at the Caf Glo awards ceremony in Abuja.
The recognition was the culmination of his efforts in helping build the game in the war torn country and it was a satisfying moment for Abdiqani to be recognized in a gathering that represents the best of football on the African continent.
Abdigani was elected President of the Somalia Football Federation in 2014 after almost a decade as the Secretary General. It has not been an easy journey for the federation with unstable political conditions and war that has raged on since the overthrowing of former president Siad Barre.
The Somalia football federation under President Abdigani have soldiered on despite so many odds against them and their development has been the talk of not only in the region but across Africa.
Passion, commitment and love of the game has seen Somalia wake up from the deep slumber as they focus and take shape in football development.
Organised under the motto of “Improving the Game by Learning from the Best,” Somalia have successfully managed to organize a football league that has actually attracted over 26 foreign players.
Abdiqani was recognized by Caf as the leader of the year because of his dedication to football and the professional organization of football development programs that protected thousands of Somali youths from falling into the hands of notorious criminals in the country.
That was an amazing achievement especially in the era of terror group Al Shabaab recruiting the youth.
In his opening address of the Glo awards ceremony, Caf president and Fifa acting president, Issa Hayatou, commended Somali FA president for the good organization of football activities back in his war-devastated country of Somalia.
“A special salute this year goes to the president of the Somali Football Federation, Abdiqani Said Arab, honored in the [leader of the year] category. In a very complex context, he succeeds to continue hoisting football as a vector of peace, a rallying factor, a cause of hope for the Somali youth” Hayatou said in his opening address.
After receiving the award, Abdiqani said that such high profile recognition was marking a great honor and publicity for him, his federation members and the entire people of Somalia.
“On behalf of Somali Football family, I would like to thank Caf president Issa Hayatou and his executive committee for honoring Somalia to have such high level award. Somalia has gained this victory with a team work, so thanks to my executive committee members, the secretariat and the stakeholders for their cooperation” president Abdiqani Said Arab noted.
“I take this opportunity to thank Caf Secretary General, Hicham El Amrani and his team for being fully aware of what is going on around the continent and particularly in Somalia” president Abdiqani explained.
“Knowing the difficulty situation in the country, we are committed to increasing our efforts until we realize our dreams of approaching a higher level than we are today” Abdiqani added.
