The national Olympic committee of Somalia has welcomed the appointment of former football and basketball referee Bashir Mohamed Jama as deputy minister of Development and Social Affairs ministry by Somali Prime Minister on Thursday. The secretary general of Somali Olympic Committee Abdullahi Tarabi, said " We are very delighted to learn that Bashir Mohamed Jama widely known as Bashir Gobe has been appointed for the position of deputy minister for development and social affairs ministry of Somali Federal Government. I have worked with Bashir for many years as an official and a coach and have been astonished for his vision and ambition. I believe Mr Jama is committed and passionate about taking Somali sports into a different level with Somali Olympic Committee and its member associations and hope that he will succeed for his new position". "The appointment of Mr Bashir Mohamed Jama will allow us to continue building an already established relationship between SNOC and ministry of Sports and Youth which has been integrated into development and social affairs ministry. I have known Mr Bashir for very long time, we have worked together for many development projects within and outside of the country and I am sure that Mr Jama will bring to the position with wide range of sports experience combined with a thorough knowledge and understanding of youth and social development. On behalf of SNOC and its member associations I would like to send my congratulations to the minister and hope that he will give the sports community a strong voice at the cabinet table" said the acting president of Somali National Olympic Committee Duran Farah, expressing his joy for the news. The appointment of Mr Jama has been broadly welcomed by Somali sports community as a whole and Somali Olympic Committee in particular, and they are looking forward to working with Mr Jama and his ministry on the continued development of Somali youth and society as a whole through sports. SNOC Media