Capital

Saint’s stay on course,Defense nose dives

Winning the final two Ethiopia premier leagues first round final matches the defending champions Saint George finished on top of the league table with 34 points while Nyala Fc hottest favorite to next season relegation finished bottom of the table collecting only 18 out of possible 45 points.
The league leaders roaring 3-1 victory over arch rival Ethiopian Coffee followed by another important 2-0 victory over former champions Electric helped them to spear head the league table with 34 points. Ten wins, four draws and a single defeat Saint’s appeared destined for the title for a record sixth time. Though the seasons international fixtures failed to turn out fruitful for the home title the challenge seem a far cry from any other side including Coffee now trailing second two points below.
Of course Ethiopian Coffee’s emphatic progress under head coach Kifle Boltena considered a big achievement that he only lost a single match while with five draws and nine wins that add up to 31 points. According many soccer fans it is still to Ethiopian Coffee to dethrone the defending champions who still poise as the nation’s soccer power.
Awasa kenema’s current performance cost it a home defeat by Ethiopian Coffee then a third place at the final count. Seven wins four draws and three defeats the side now has 30 just two points far from the leaders. Even sending out players for the capital’s financially strong sides Awasa still managed to survive as the strongest regional side to closely stay on course with the leaders. Awasa’s first round final match went well above expectation that is an away win over Trans Ethiopia.
Two of the seasons surprise packages newly promoted Tikur Abay Transport and Insurance FCs made an inspiring first round performance now they appear to go up the further from relegation zone while knock out title holder Defense Force lost the way to victory since booted out of CAF cup. Insurance’s last two performances to crush Electric then Defense Force with same 1-0 victory made the side jump to mid table with 19 Points. Third spell with Insurance head coach Seyoum Abate in hand and glove terms with club executive committee members now is said to look for additional players to sign and surely get it. Under seasoned head Coach Tsegaye Desta, Tikur Abay Transport Fc made an astonishing six matches unbeaten runs culminated by 3-1 victory over Trans Ethiopia a sidelong forgotten how to win.
Ethiopia Banks’ slump appeared nowhere to reverse the misery continues while the side still struggles to some consistency. Three days after the emphatic four- nil home victory Banks traveled to Debrezeit to loose at the hands of relegation strugglers Air Force. The problem with the two Addis Ababa clubs, Banks and Electric is yet to diagnosed by those concerned most. Banks has 17 while Ken Morten’s Electric moans with 16 points.
Nyala FC under head coach Wondemagne Kebede is consistently loosing matches both at home and away now comfortable at the bottom of the table with only ten points. Though the head coach promised a revival after the two months break, things appeared out of hand that relegation seems inevitable. Defense Force is the closest company to Nyala with only 13 points.

Devils torment Roma,Seedorf sinks the Bismarck

In one of all time most thrilling champions league quarterfinal second leg clashes things turned up side down against soccer fans predictions to features three English sides for the semi final stage. No one in clear mind predict that Chelsea and Ac Milan would survive as visitors once they lost the home chance against an experienced side Valencia and Bayer Munich. Even soccer god could hardly dream to United’s 7-1 emphatic victory against AS Roma. Who was the first to say soccer result is the most unpredictable phenomena? Three former champions Ac Milan, Liverpool and Manchester United plus a new club member Chelsea are now the semi finalists.
The all action packed film made by Manchester United entitled Old Trafford Return Leg starring Christiano Ronaldo turned out an English slaughter over Italians like the Second World War.
It is hard to believe that the very Manchester united that lost an important premier league fixture 2-1 to Portsmouth that devastated Italian league leaders As Roma to 7-1 emphatic win to book a place in the champions’ league semi final stage with 8-3 aggregate score line. Roma manager Luciano Spaletti was not exaggerating when he told reporters that his side could have easily beaten United in more than three or four goals in the first leg encounter. God knows what that master devil Sir Alex Ferguson instilled in the Red Devils squad for they were still in goal hunger even with seven goals lead. Michael Carrick burst open the flood gate at the 12th minute which according Roma’s manager that devastated the return leg game plan. They went out for an early equalizer, the biggest mistake that cost not only the semi final place but may be his job at the end of the season. Five minutes later back from long injury Alan Smith scored the second followed by Rooney’s third two minutes later. Man of the match Ronaldo who set all three goal chances scored the fourth before first half whistle gone. Ronaldo went on to score the forth just four minutes in to second half then Carrick grabbed his second. Di Rossi’s 69th minute fantastic goal was nothing except calling an addition from the home side that came through Evra nine minutes from the final whistle. It happened to be the biggest goal scoring spree since United’s first ever champions league title in 1956.
Though Valencia appeared a bunch of tough guys at Stamford Bridge first leg clash and also took an early first half lead through Morientes, it was for Maurinho’s die hard squad the semi final booking went. Even normally loud Chelsea boss Jose Maurinho told reporters failing to reach champions league semi final does not mean the end of the world, a statement more to a frustrated manager than one hoping an away victory. How ever, Schevichenko gave the equalizer followed by injury time heart stopping winning goal from no other than Ghanaian Michael Essian. Maurinho saved from the hung men with that last minute goal to go to the semi final big clash against enemy number one Liverpool.
Displaying superior performance at the first twenty minutes, over confident Bayer Munich thrown away an already baked manna to former six time champions Ac Milan. For Bayer that came from Sansiro with 2-2 draw losing in front of 64000 home crowed meant bitter blow for the second time since loosing the cup final 2-1 to United with two-injury time heart breaking goals. The same Ottmar Hitzfield was Bayer manager at the time. Ac Milan encounters Manchester United in the semi final two-leg clash.
Already the semi final booking in the pocket Liverpool entertained Psv Eindhoven to 1-0 victory the goal courtesy to best ever form Peter Crouch. Rafael Benitez who proved master tactician when it comes to European business now faces enemy number one Jose Maurinho in the semi final clash.

Rising star Teiba wins New Orleans road race

A week after her astonishing 10 miles victory in Washington- USA Teiba Erkeso clocked 32:08 to win the 10 km road race in New Orleans. Rising fast to become one of Ethiopian prominent road race athlete Teiba took part in the event as under dog for many seasoned athletes including last year Los Angles marathon winner Tatyana Petrova. The Russian was the hottest favorite to the title with only the Kenyans expected to challenge her. While they were busy checking each other the twenty four year old Teiba broke away from the pack early and galloped alone to the finishing line.
Following Teiba, came Kenyan Emily Chebet crossing the line six seconds latter with Tatyana coming third in 32:31 to claim third place .Makunzi, Jemima Jelagat and Viora Bor all from Kenya finished from fourth to sixth respectively. Lena Samokhavalova from Russia finished seventh followed by Ethiopian Amane Gobena. Winning two important road races in a week time Teiba is now considered as one of the future road queen as her fame at home catching fast.
In the men’s occasion last week Washington 10 miles winner Ethiopian Tadesse Tola failed to record another win the Kenyans too strong to him alone in the leading pack. The Janmeda croos country 12 kms reigning champion hassled and bustled against the all-Kenyan front row finally to bow out in time from the medal table to settle fourth place. Led by strong George Mesoi who clocked 28:15 the Kenyans swept the medal table. Second place Nicholas Kamkaya and Linsu Maiyo crossed the line in same 28: 17 only to win silver and bronze respectively. Tadesse Tola clocked 28:19 followed by Tanzanian John Yuda and New Zeland’s Michael Aish. Ethiopian Solomon Tsige and Teferi Bacha finished seventh and eighth respectively.

Ethiopia drawn with Nigeria in group one

The Ethiopian National women’s side has been drawn in-group one where the continent’s heavy weight Nigeria became hottest favorite to finish on top of the group stage in All African Games soccer championship cup final. The host nation Algeria in-group two, eight African nations are taking part in the soccer cup final.
Ethiopian women who crushed Liberian encounter with 8-2 aggregate victory to book a cup final place for the first time ever, considered as group one under dog for all three of the group members better experienced at international level. The home team, with rising star players the likes of women soccer all time top scorer Addis Feleke and all Ethiopian Game player of the tournament Bertukan Gibrekirstos would have a much celebrated stage to spear head Ethiopian national side as the most entertaining side capable of challenging big guns in the group.
The Nations four time champions Nigeria, also with big experience at Olympic and world cup final stages is highly expected to dominate the event as hottest favorite to reach the cup final. South Africa the other experienced national side expected to challenge Nigerians to win top spot of the group while Zambians are said to already start preparation to make history crushing out group favorite Nigeria from top spot.
Group two brought together Cameron, Senegal, Chad and the host Algeria as Ghanaians considered favorite to finish on top of the group.
Defending African women’s Champions Ghana, also with abundant international experience expected to dominate the group with the only challenge may come from Cameron who had been in the nation’s cup final semi final stage. Except the privilege of hosting the occasion, little known in women soccer Algeria taken as group under dogs never to be taken easy for the backing of the home cowed.
In the mean time, the men’s soccer cup final draw brought together Tunisia, South Africa, Botswana and winner of Cameroon Vs Gabon clash. Group two comprised of host Algeria, Egypt, Winner of Senegal Vs Guinea and Winner of Zambia Vs Mozambique clashes.
Cameron and Ghana expected to battle for group one top spot while host Algeria backed by home crowed may stir some surprise crushing Senegal to settle for some pride in third place.

Baher Dar hosts Dart tournament

The third Ethiopian national dart tournament kicks of tomorrow in the host town Baher Dar. Bringing together all; regional states plus Addis Ababa and Diredawa, the one week tournament is expected to draw the biggest ever spectators.
According to the press release from Ethiopian Dart Federation the occasion already considered special for it is taking place at the eve of the Ethiopian millennium.
As Amhara Region seat and host of the tournament, the seaside Baher Dar town is said to conclude its preparation for the delegation coming over for the one week tournament not only as competitors but also guests for the town.
Sponsored by all time sport partner Ethio Nippon Technical Company that extended substantial Finance and technical assistance, the nation wide dart tournament participates at every age group in both genders. The federation’s brief statement states that the little known sport is a sport very ideal for every individual at every age group thus one of the tournament’s goal is to promote the sport nation wide at the same time bringing together different Ethiopian cultures and traditions in celebration of the Ethiopian Millennium. The tournament takes place in eleven categories.

sport commentary

The reason for Manchester United Success

Sir Alexander Chapman Ferguson CBE (born 31 December inGovan, Glasgow) is a Scottish football manager and former player, currently managing Manchester United F.C He has won more trophies than any other manager in the history of English football and been in charge of Manchester United for more than 1,000 matches. With 20 years under his belt, he is the second-longest serving manager in the history of Manchester United after Sir Matt Busby .
He has previously managed East Stirlingshire and St. Mirren, before a highly successful period as manager of Aberdeen. He was briefly the manager of Scotland , in a temporary capacity owing to the death of Jock Stein, before becoming the manager of Manchester United in 1986.
At Manchester United, Sir Alex has become the most successful manager in the history of English football, having guided the team to eight league championships. In 1999, he became the first manager to lead an English team to the treble of league championship, FA Cup and UEFA Champions League. As well as being the only manager to win the FA Cup five times, he is also the only manager ever to guide a club to three successive league championships in the top flight in England (1998-1999, 1999-2000 and 2000-2001).
One recurring theme of Sir Alex Ferguson's management of Manchester United has been his view that no player is bigger than the club. He has consistently taken a "my way or the highway" approach in his dealings with players and the pressure of this management tact has often been the cause of many notable players' departures. Over the years players such as Paul McGrath,Paul Ince,AndreiKanchelskis, Jaap Stam,Dwight,Yorke,David Beckham ,Gordon Streehan and more recently, Roy Keane and Ruudvan Nistelrooy, have left the club after varying degrees of conflict with Ferguson. This disciplinary line that he takes with such highly-paid, high-profile players has been mentioned as a reason for the ongoing success of Manchester United. (Source From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)