History Of Football Sport In Eritrea At A Glance PART II AND FINAL

History Of Football Sport In Eritrea At A Glance PART II AND FINAL

By: Yishak Yared

Right after independence, in 1991, the Eritrean government took strong initiatives to rehabilitate all sports activities in general and football sport in particular. And it beginning from this time that we could talk about the Eritrean football for we are responsible for its development and revival. In 1992 the Eritrean government issued sports policy and strategy targeted towards community by forming different independent federations in all levels, national and regional federations.

Though in Eritrea Football Federation was formed in 1936, during the Italian colonialism, allowing indigenous teams to be established and run their own tournaments, it was nonetheless under the scrutiny and control of the Italians. The free and independent Football Federation was formed during the period of federation (1952-1962). After Ethiopia illegally annexed Eritrea the Football Federation had to go to back where it was during the Italian rule. Under heavy control. According to a document from the National Football Federation of Eritrea, the ENFF was re- established in 1992 following the nation’s independence and had its first statute in 1996 and was modified in 1998, totally based on the provisions of international standard of CAF and FIFA. The Eritrean National Football Federation included six committees: Finance, Competitions, Referees, Technical, Women and Public Relations. There is also a medical team. All members of the executive committee are elected from qualified and experienced sports citizens. The ENFF has nine Executive Committee members, six members representing each region of the country, and twenty selected members working as sub- committees in the above mentioned disciplines.

Football tournaments are organized both at regional and national levels. For senior categories above 20, the six regions hold annual championships for 1st, 2ne and 3rd divisions. Regional championships then take part in the national club championship organized by ENFF. The winner in this competition then participate, representing the country, in CAF- C1 annual tournament. In addition to this, each region also organizes yearly knockout tournament among its regional teams. The winners in these regional tournaments then take part in ENFF organized national clubs knockout tournament; The winner in this national competition participates, representing the country, in a CECAFA competitions.

For juniors, under 20 and 17, regional selections engage in an annual, ENFF organized tournament, at the national level. From this tournament selection of players is conducted aimed at establishing national teams of both groups, under 20 and 17, which take part in regional and international tournaments organized for this purpose by CAF, CECAFA and FIFA.

The Eritrean national team that will take part in the CECAFA competion that will kicked off on, Saturday August 14, 2010, in Asmara under the theme “Development and Friendship Cup” is selected through this process.

The CECAFA Football Competition under 20 is organized for the first time in Eritrea. The competition that will take part from 14-28 of August is expected to be a good opportunity for the participating teams and countries to see and observe by themselves the peace and tranquility that is prevailing in Eritrea. We Eritreans claim ourselves that our country is peace loving, crime free, and with very hospitable people. During the coming two weeks the participants and the other guests will witness this.

Eritrea has been an independent and sovereign country in 1991; and only 20 years have passed since we gain our independence. Within these twenty years tremendous development activities in terms of infrastructure building including roads, housing complexes, port facilities, Airports, mechanized farms, have been conducted.

Our development strategy is based on self reliance, Self reliance means depending on oneself in terms of man power, resources and other basic necessities in our endeavors of development. Partnership with regional and international players has also a big part in our strategy of development; partnership on equal footing.

The CECAFA football tournament is conducted under the theme “Development and Friendship Cup”. The theme is what Eritrea aspires to happen in this region. Eritrea believes if the countries in our region could work together for economic development, peace and friendship, the region is rich in resources and that in a very short period of time the people of the region could feed themselves without expecting hand outs from others.

For the people of this region to feed themselves the first priority would for them would be to create peace and foster friendship among themselves. This inevitable pre- requisite could only be realized if the region is free from outside interferences and depend from themselves and from their own resources and human factor. Eritrea is, hence, very much committed to this from the very beginning of its independence. Our guests, football players and organizers of the CECAFA competition have plenty to observe and admire in Eritrea.

Eritrea is a very small in terms of geography and population. It has nine ethnic groups and two religions, Islam and Christians, living in harmony and peace for centuries. Each ethnic group has its own cultural and traditional practices and each one respects the cultures and traditions of the others.

The thirty year of struggle for Eritrean independence, which culminated in 1991 with the victory of the Eritrean Liberation fighters was conducted with full participation and united forces of all the ethnic groups of the country. Hence, in Eritrea ethnicity and religion is not taken as a subject. Every one follows and practices in whatever religion he/she believes. The violence based on ethnicity and religion we observe in most countries has nothing to do in Eritrea.

The hospitability of the Eritrean people is also another strong asset that we are proud of. The people are very loving and friendly to every visitor that comes to their country. It is our sincere hope that the participants of the CECAFA Cup, the leaders of the teams and visitors will enjoy the peace that is prevailing in the country and the hospitability of the people. Good beginning of the CECAFA “Development and Friendship Cup” Eritrea 2010.

Share this post