FIFA President Gianni Infantino has sent his condolence message to the family of the late Somalia legend Abdulkadir Mohamed.
In a letter to the Somalia Football Federation president Abdiqani Said Arab, Infantino recalled Mohamed’s heydays from being a player to an advisor to the Minister for Youth and Sport of the Federal Government of Somalia.
“Words seem inadequate to express the sadness we feel for this loss. During his career, he first represented his home Hiiraan region in the regional football tournament and later joined Batroolka FC, one of the top football teams in the Somali first division during the 1980s,” Infantino wrote.
“A Somali football legend, well-liked football personality, advisor to the Minister for Youth and Sport of the Federal Government of Somalia in the recent years, his legacy and trajectory on and off the pitch will not be forgotten and he will be truly missed,” he added.
“On behalf of the international football community, I wish to extend our deepest sympathy to the Somali Football Federation, and to his family, friends and loved ones. Our thoughts are with all of you. We hope that these memories and our words of support may help bring some peace and solace at this difficult time.”
Mohamed passed on Wednesday in a London Hospital where he was admitted last week after testing positive for Coronavirus.
According to Somalia FA statement, Mohamed was born in in the city of Beledweyne, some 342 kilometres north of the capital Mogadishu.
His football career dates back to 1976 when he first appeared in the national schools football tournament.
Mohamed was then promoted to regional level representing his home Hiiraan region in the 1979 regional football tournament.
The regional tournament became a platform for him to showcase his talent and from there he was recruited by Batroolka Football Club where he enjoyed very good days until the late 1980s.
For the past four years, the late Somali football legend was an advisor to the minister for youth and sport of the federal government of Somalia.
Somali Football Federation announced three days of mourning starting from Wednesday 25 March.
