The governing body of Somali Sports has held its general assembly followed by the third elective elections, in wich they have overwhelmingly elected former secretary General Abdullahi Tarabi as president for the next four years in Mogadishu on Thursday.

The former basketball player and national coach run the election unopposed and got all available votes from the committee members.

“Ladies and gentlemen, let me take this opportunity to thank you all for electing me to lead this organisation, we have gone through more than 20 years of instability and civil war together in which we have lost many of our colleagues on the road to promote Olympic movements and values in our country . I am delighted today for all of us more than ever to hold our election in much peaceful city of Mogadishu. The journey of developing and improving the performance of Somali athletes and to prepare them for international competitions in an improved form have just began, let us pick ourselves from the ruins of civil war and build a better society through sports” said the elected president Abdiullahi Tarabi in his post election speech.

Mr Tarabi is expected to revive Somali sports, establish a good working relationship with ministry of sport as well as engaging all of its affiliates in discussing improvement of co-operation for the development of Olympic activities within the country.

Somali National Olympic committee’s former vice president Duran Farah was elected for the secretary general post in the session held at Jazeera Hotel.

“I am delighted to be elected as the secretary general of Somali Olympic Committee and would like to thank all of the members for their votes and having faith and trust in me, I am confident that we can take Somali sports forward together” said Mr. Duran Farah who studied Executive Masters Degree in Sports Organizations.

A very well decorated assembly prior to the election was held at the presence of state minister for Social Affairs Development ministry which oversees sports and youth Mohamud Ismail Barqadle, the deputy minister and former international football and basketball referee Bashir Jama, Mayor of Mogadishu and former basketball player Mohamud Nur, observers from Somali sports community in Diaspora as well as Somali media outlets.

After the election the ministers and the mayor have all praised Somali Olympic Committee for their fair and transparent election and guaranteed government support and co-operation with the new leaders.

Thursday’s democratic and transparent election paves a way for a better and brighter future for Somali sports in 2013 and expectantly leaves behind the hurting year of 2012 which Somali Olympic Committee has lost its former president along with former Football boss and executive member in April.