Somali NOC and Sports Minister disagree over administrative power as Basketball Federation president is removed
07/09/2007 |
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The disagreement between the Somali sports minister and Somali NOC reached a head when Somali government sports minister Mowliid Maan Mahmoud announced the removal of National Basketball Federation president, Aden Hajji Yabarow (Wiish) at a press conference on Tuesday.
Somali NOC president, Abdul Kadeer Ibraahim Gaal (Abkow) angrily denounced the minister’s decree to remove Mr Wiish saying that sports Mowliid Maan has no right to interfere in Somali sports.
“He is the national minister, we recognize that he is our minister of sports, but we can not allow Mr. Mowliid to disrupt us,” said Somali NOC President during his address at the Somali Basket ball annual congress held on Tuesday, September 4 2007 at the Somali NOC Center in Mogadishu.
“Sports leaders are elected by their clubs and not appointed or suspended by ministers,” he said, adding that the sports ministry is only responsible for sports policy.
The minister gave as his reason for removing Mr Wiish the fact that the federation had not developed under the president and had had a number of setbacks. He also told the press conference that the federation had only three teams. Minister Mowlid Maan cited the fact that Mr Wiish held three posts including Basketball Federation president, Somali NOC first vice-president, and director of regional development for the ministry of sports as a reason for removing him.
Somali basketball federation President Aden Hajji Yabarow (Wiish) who delivered a prolonged speech at the annual congress told the delegates that his federation had been one of the national flag carriers since the downfall of the Somali government in 1991 and this time was expecting the government to reward it for its hard work done in the past.
“This federation was elected by basketball clubs on February 12, 2005 and it will work until the next election congress in 2009, now the clubs presidents are here with us and if they are firing me I am leaving, but nothing else can restrict me from my job,” said the basketball federation president, whose speech was welcomed by the club presidents who were all gathered for the annual meeting.
“I was in Beijing on national business work when I heard the minister suspended me,.I did not react to him and instead I continued my job, because I was representing the nation,” he added.
Somali deputy sports minister Ahmed Isse Awaale disagreed with his minister and instead was present at Tuesday’s basketball annual congress saying he believes the idea that sport is an independent organization from government interferences at all.
“We apologize to you for the minister’s action because it is only his idea and the government does not agree with him,” said Somali deputy sports minister, Mr Awaale, adding that the government will present high level rewards to Somali NOC and its federations.
Secretary General of the Somali Basketball Federation Ali Amiin Hajji, who addressed the meeting presented evidence of the federation's activities over the last few years.
“Our federation’s activities cannot be even covered by the sun light,” he said.
"Somali people and international sports organizations are the real witnesses of their past activities.
Somali Basketball Federation deputy president Mr Ibraahim Hussein Ali Roombe, who was appointed as president of the federation by the minister said he doesn’t agree with Mowliid Maan's appointment and still recognizes Mr Wiish as his president.
Presidents of 13 national basketball Clubs, players and basketball fans also denounced the minister’s idea and accentuated that he, the Minister is going to destroy something.
However, Somali Sports Minister Mowliid Maan Mahmoud ordered Mr Aden Hajji Yabarow to step down within 7 days otherwise his ministry will take steps against him.
Somali Prime minister Dr Ali Mohamed Geddi has not commented on the issue.
Source: AIPS)
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