African Press Agency
Saturday, October 11, 2008
The SFF president told APA during an interview shortly after his release that he was driving home when three armed men kidnapped him and drove toward Mogadishu’s south-western outskirts.
"They told me that they were paid to kill me, then I demanded to pay more for my release," Mahmoud Nur said.
"They released me after three hours in detention when my father and brothers paid US$3000," he added.
The Somali football federation president said the gang refused to disclose the identify of the brain behind this assassination attempt.
After his release, Said Mahmoud Nur hired armed men for his protection.
"I will not go into exile, I am working and will work for my people and country," the president said, lamenting the fact that he needs armed men around him as body guards.
Since the beginning of this year, at least 6 sporting individuals were killed in Mogadishu, one of them was the international football referee Abdi Abdullahi Alasow.
Somalia has been without a functioning central government since the downfall of former military ruler Mohamed Siayd Barre in 1991, sports has been used to eliminate hostilities and create public integration since then.
Source: APA, Oct 11, 2008