Somaliland Sports Minister Lambasted For Negligence over Sports Activities
Hargeisa May 11, 2013 (SDN) – Chairman of Ministry of Aviation and Air Transport football club Mr. Mohamed Husein Dhabeye who has been engaged in sports development activities for the last 15 years has accused the Minister of Sport and Hargeisa Mayor of neglecting golden opportunity that Somaliland could expose its cause in the international sports events.
“The responsibility of the ministry of sports is not only implementing regional tournaments. Somaliland government should realize how Somaliland sports federations in the country should become permanent members of world’s sports associations. Somaliland got official invitation from East and Central African Basketball Inter-cities Committee for the 3rd consecutive time this year, but Somaliland had failed to participate such highly organized regional tournament which more than 15 countries from East and Central Africa were attending” Dhabeye said while speaking with reporters in Hargeisa.
“Officials and representatives from International basketball bodies organized this tournament and Somaliland Basketball Federation was lobbying how Somaliland would become member of the committee of east and central Africa, but we failed due to negligence by the minster of sport Mr. Ali Saed Raygal who does not prefer the development of any Sports federation in the country”.
Dhabeye who is also a senior sports analyst also noted “President Ahmed Mohamed Silanyo shows commitment to the sporting activities of the country to make tangible improvements, but the problem is always the minister of sports who lacks the effectiveness and capability of realizing president Silanyo’s ambitions towards sports”.
He also added. “Last year Somaliland attended this tournament. It was a great success and step forward for Somaliland youth. Last year’s tournament came true due to efforts made by the minster of Presidency Mr. Hirsi Ali Haji Hassan and former Hargeisa Mayor Eng. Husein Jiciir who both covered the financial needs of the team”
Hargeisa Basketball Team will sit out the Inter-cities Championship which features teams from Sudan, Somalia, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania, Uganda and Kenya Due to ‘Financial Difficulties’.
By: Eng. Abdirisak Ismail Qalinle (Itaqile)
SDN News Desk Hargeisa