Monday September 29, 2003

SURPRISE CHOICE: Young Seyoum Kebede crowned
Genene Mekuria and Kassaye Arage left out
 

By Michael Samson

Just as we thought that events at the Ethiopian National Soccer team could not take any more dramatic turns, young Seyoum Kebede was appointed as head coach and replaced Asrat Haile who resigned following a dispute with Culture, Youth & Sport’s deputy minister after Ethiopian failed to qualify for the 24th African nations cup final. Most of the seasoned coaches who usually jump into any train offered by the football federation declined to submit their documents for the candidacy. According to the bi-weekly sports newspaper ‘Inter,’ those who played merry-go-round in the country’s clubs for the last two decades uncharacteristically decided to abstain from the candidacy despite having a ton load of curriculum vitae to run for the hot seat.
Seyoum Kebede, Mekuria Ashebir, Sebsibe Yibas, Ashenafi Bekele and Adane G/yesus are the few who asked for the job. Owner and chief editor of the bi-weekly sports newspaper who coined the notorious “come closer” tactical soccer play, Genene Mekuria and his prodigy young Ethiopian Coffee head coach Kassaye Arage are the two surprise submissions for the country’s highest soccer coaching position.
A week after the notification expiry, the Federation’s national technical committee announced that Seyoum Kebede who led Saint George to the premier league title for the second year in a row won the candidacy. The latest national head coach is to face the back-breaking task of leading the country’s soccer out of the grave to qualify for the 2006 world cup final to be held in Germany. As the first pre-qualification home match is on the first week of October against Malawi, Seyoum is out in the cold alone and unguarded from what ever comes unheralded. The Ethiopian soccer coaches’ circle is notorious for its intriguing expertise featuring back-stabbing at its best.
Young Seyoum who has never been in the coaches cut-throat league and a man known for his solo fly is now in his biggest professional challenge of his life since his hard-earned premier title win last season. Rumored for his indecisiveness and minimal tactical know-how, Seyoum has assumed the once dream job of the country now thrashed on the street for anyone’s grab.
What is even more surprising is the appointment of Mekuria Ashebir, long time Dire Dawa Railway’s coach who failed as U-20 and Junior national teams, with his recent adventure of sending down Railway from the premier league. Courtesy of his failure, now he is appointed an assistant to his very junior Seyoum Kebede. Two decades back when Seyoum was a player, Mekuria was a certified coach of Dire Dawa Railway. After failing in different occasions, his appointment is taken as a slap on the face for the young and upcoming soccer coaches.

Seyoum confident to crash Morocco out

Seyoum Abate told reporters that the group housing Ethiopia in the 27th Athens Olympic soccer qualification draw is the easiest out of the four groups one can dream about. The Ethiopian national Olympic soccer team, which has never reached for the Olympic soccer cup final, now has the best possible opportunity, added the notorious head coach of the Olympic team.
AS per the announcement broadcasted Monday through the FM Addis Radio sport program, Ethiopia was named in the relatively easiest group consisting of the Olympic and world cup’s well experienced Morocco, the other East African country Uganda and Angola.
The Ethiopian national Olympic team had qualified for the group stage after winning Sudan and Mali in a two-leg match. The final home match, which ended in 2-0 victory thanks to double scorer Ethiopian Coffee midfielder Ashenafi Girma who removed the gloomy atmosphere ignited by the national senior team’s failure to get through to the 24th African nations cup final.
Now Seyoum Abate and his assistant Worku Dergeba called for the Football Federation to start their preparation early. Although the Federation has not responded so far, the head coach is optimistic of having his way soon.
Seyoum said in the interview, “a win over the popular Morocco Olympic team meant a free ticket to Athens. We know Morocco is a well experienced side but I am sure we can defeat them at home and on their home to avenge the 1984 drama on which the North African team crushed out Ethiopia after a 1-1 draw in Addis Ababa to have a place in the Olympic cup final”.
The sixteen countries are out for the qualification battle that is due to start on the 1st of October. Nigeria, the Atlanta Olympic gold medallists, and Cameroon the defending champions are clear favorites to have a place in the final. Winners from each of the four groups will be representing Africa in the 27th Athens Olympic.

Ethiopia prepares for Abuja’s All African games

For the first time in the country’s sport history, Ethiopia is to participate in 13 disciplines in the coming 8th All African games to be held in the Nigerian capital, Abuja, the Ethiopian Olympic committee disclosed.
Ethiopia, home of athletics heroes, usually participates in very few sports, limited to athletics, boxing and cycling only. This time around Ethiopia is to fly the tri-colour in athletics, boxing, ground tennis, table tennis, badminton, cycling, chess, women soccer, gymnastic paramedics, weight lifting, karate and taikuando.
Despite having little or no international experience in most of the thirteen events, the Olympic Committee granted 500,000 birr for preparation to the Athens Olympic, so that Ethiopia could stand a better chance than in the previous ones. As far as athletics is concerned, our athletes are ready not only in the usual long distance, but in 400 and 800 meters as well
At the first All Africa games which took place in Zaire, former Congo Brazzaville, where 30 countries featured in 10 disciplines, Ethiopia stood 23rd with only one silver while Egypt came top of the table followed by Nigeria and Kenya.
Now at the 8th edition, 53 countries are to participate in 23 disciplines with 6000 athletes, the highest number ever. Ethiopia who came 9th at the 7th All Africa games with 6 gold, 1 silver and one bronze is to line up a record with 126 athletes. The expectation of more medals is also high around the Olympic Committee especially in the middle and long distance run.
In addition to the athletics sport where Ethiopia’s world famous athletes Haile, Kenenisa, Berhane and Derartu are absent, medals are expected from boxing, table tennis and chess competitions. The Ethiopian women national soccer team is also favorite to join the medal table. The 126 delegates are to depart for Nigeria at the end of this month.
Olympic qualification group

 

Awassa Kenema F.C. ready for the new season

Coffee facing real danger

Tamiru Yadeta joined Awassa Kenema F.C. with the clubs record transfer fee. The first club outside of Addis Ababa to represent Ethiopia in African club championship three years back, Awassa Kenema signed some of the big names in the premier league to strongly challenge the capital city’s elite clubs.
The national team defender Tamiru signed for Awassa following the denial of his request for a 15,000 signing fee with his former club Banks. Awassa came with a 20,000 birr bonus to snatch the player against Harar Brewery’s 13,000 birr signing bonus.
Awassa Kenema, determined to challenge for the title, also brought in former head coach Kemal Ahmed who took them to their first ever CAF representation as Ethiopian knockout champion three years ago. Supporters’ favorite Kemal Ahmed’s return to the club brought in big name players for the new season.
Solomon Kebede (Shemamu), who signed from Medhin for 15,000 birr, is expected to lead Awassa’s strike force while his Medhin mate midfielder Yosef Tesfaye and Zelalem Alitah from Mugher F.C. are new comers pocketing 10,000 birr for their two-years contract. Having new faces and their former successful head coach Kemal at their disposal, Awassa Kenema are in a high pre-season preparation for the new season which kicks-off at the beginning of October.
In a shocking new development, the country’s most popular club Ethiopian Coffee is said to be deprived off their longtime living quarter in the vicinity of Coffee Exporters Union compound which is situated in down town, Nefassilk.
According to the weekly sports news paper “Cambolojo,” the Coffee Exporters Union requested the club to leave the vicinity despite the club owing them 800,000 birr collected from the Ethiopian coffee growers in support of the soccer club. The Union is said to withhold the 800,000 birr even though coffee cried bankruptcy at the beginning of last season.
If the Union stood firm on their ground, Coffee -so far without major financial backers- may face a real hard time that could undermine not only their international fixture for the CAF championship but also for the local premier league season. Time for Ethiopian Coffee supporters to stand up in “Unity” and save their club from the down coming disastrous land slide.