The president of Somali Football Federation and CECAFA vice president, Abdiqani Said Arab, has been crowned as the African Football leader of the year, after receiving the prestigious award during the Glo awards ceremony in Abuja, Nigeria over night on Thursday.

The president has been recognized 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.

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” CAF president Issa Hayatou said in his opening address.

After receiving the award, SFF president Abdiqani Said Arab, 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 Said Arab explained.

The president said that receiving this award was encouraging him and members of the SFF to redouble the football-related development programs in the country.

“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” Somali Football Federation president, Abdiqani Said Arab said.

The council of East and Central Africa Football Associations [CECAFA] is very much pleased with the football progress in Somalia where the first live screened football match went on successfully today.

CECAFA Secretary General, Nicholas Musonye, has written to Somali Football Federation president congratulating him on the successful approach in the country. Today’s match was the first to be shown on TV screen live in Somalia’s football history.

‘Congratulations again to SFF for all the timely positive things you are doing in your country. We want to see a changed Somalia and more programs for our youth in our beautiful country” Secretary General, Nicholas Musonye, said in his congratulatory letter on Thursday.

“CECAFA stands with you always in all your efforts. The LIVE coverage is the beginning of greater things in your country, congratulations again” the regional Africa football boss mentioned in his letter.

The final match of the 2015 edition of the General Da’ud cup was broadcasted live on the Somali National Television and was facilitated by the privately-owned production company [Horn Connect].

The Somali military team [Horseed] lifted the trophy after beating their Somali police-owned Heegan FC rivals by 2-1 in the final match. Tens of thousands of spectators including key government officials were watching the match.

History was made in Somalia when the first football match in the country’s history has been watched live on Thursday. The military club [Horseed] won the General Da’ud Cup final match after beating their rivals, the Somali police-owned club of Heegan 2-1.

Thursday’s match is recorded as the most watched Somali football game in history as millions of Somalis in and outside the country were watching it on TV, while tens of thousands turned up for the match at stadium Banadir.

Both teams were fully prepared for the match which local media voted as ‘the most hotly-contested’ football game in Somalia ever.

The police club [Heegan] who are the current champions of the country scored the lone goal in the 32nd minute of the match when Deeq Abdullahi Nur AKA Aariyo, placed a beautiful shoot into the opponents’ goal, ending the first half 1-0 in favor of Heegan FC.

Horseed stepped up their attacks to compensate for the goal, but one of their playmakers, Robert Kareithi Meme [Kenya] was awarded with a red car in the 34th minute. However, that didn’t stop his side from moving on, as Adaani Barre Isse, did score the equalizing goal for his team in the 49th minute.

Daniel Matengo [Kenya] scored the winning goal for his team in the 60th minute of the match. Heegan didn’t despair of trying to equalize, but they lost several opportunities which could have made them at least a goal.

The 2-1 victory for Horseed was already predicted by football journalist Mohamed Barre. “My prediction of the final match result is that Horseed will win 2-1” the Minneapolis-based journalist said on Tuesday.

Somali minister for youth and sport, Mohamed Abdullahi, described the first televised football match in the country as a ‘big step’ forward.

“Today I am more than happy. The first live match in Somalia shows we are moving forward” the minister for youth and sport Mohamed Abdullahi said while talking to the media at the stadium after the end of the first half.

“I praise the Somali Football Federation authorities for their professional organization. Football is playing a big role in the country’s development, peace building and income generation” the minister said while standing alongside the president of Somali Football Federation, Abdiqani Said Arab.

The president said that the live coverage was a test that his federation can televise a match saying it went on successfully. “This was a starting point and we have understood that we can put live matches on air. I know it is a hard work which needs much money, but we are committed to continuing it” the president said.

“In the months to come, we will at least try to have some of the hottest matches televised and I am sure we will finally approach our target which is to get every Somalia match screened live” said president Abdiqani Said Arab.

Somalia has realized this major approach and other developments made in the country, as the young age president has only been in the leadership officer for less than 14 months.

Somali parliament member, Mustafa Sheikh Ali Dhuhulow, who was one of several government officials at the stadium, told the media that football is now making Somalia recover from past wounds.

“A window of progress and public integration has been opened by the Somali Football Federation. This is an encouraging move” the law maker said. “I am a fan for Heegan, but I don’t mind if we have been defeated. It is a football, so you can win or lose” added Mr. Dhuhulow who is one of the most football-bad government officials.

However, apart from the trophy, the winners were awarded with 45 million Somali shillings as prize money, while Heegan FC received 25 million Somali shillings for the second place.

FIFA refereeing development officer, Mr. Ahmed El Shenawi, said he sees signs of progress in Somalia, naming the country’s FA president, Abdiqani Said Arab, a ‘symbol for Somali sport’ in general.

Mr. El Shenawi made the comment during his address at the opening ceremony of FIFA MA refereeing course for Somalia, at SYL hotel in the capital Mogadishu on Tuesday.

After thanking FIFA for its commitment to develop football around the world, Mr. El Shenawi, said it was time to thank a hardworking soldier. “This man is a symbol for Somali football and sport in general” the FIFA official said pointing at Somali Football Federation president, Abdiqani Said Arab, who sat next to him.

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