What an English soccer weekend?
Arsenal Vs Chelsea — Liverpool Vs Manchester United

The English premier league season biggest soccer weekend features the big four of England today. League leaders Arsenal entertain FA cup holder Chelsea while defending Champions Manchester United travel to Anfield to the super clash against last year's champion's league runner-up Liverpool. What a dream weekend!
League leaders Arsenal appear in confusion since the champions league defeat to Seville. Back from Spain the Gunners journey to Saint James Park ended in 1-1 draw followed by the shocking 3-1 away defeat at the hands of Middlesborough. With Cesk Fabregas absent in all the three matches his return today may rattle the visitor's midfield with out giant killer Ghanaian Michael Essein. In good form since the arrival of Avram Grant's arrival Chelsea visit Emirates with out star striker Didier Drogba and midfielder Essein, the two most decisive players of the side. No Drogba means Andrey Shevchenko is to lead the Blues strike force. In the absence of Essein, who could stop back from injury Fabregas in midfield? Is Wenger's strike force capable of creating real threat to Chelsea's strong defense line? A draw seems the likely score line if not a win to the visitors. Arsenal leads the table with 37 with Chelsea third having 34 points.
The defending champion Manchester United is back in form demolishing Derby 4-1
Last week. Argentinean three time best player of the season Tevez scoring twice, his hunger for goal seems to mount already in the top scorer's list. The shaky defense of Liverpool appears incapable of stopping Alex Ferguson's front line consisting Rooney, Tevez, Ronaldo and Giggs. Considering his defense line, Ferguson is a man of no worries
as he has the best of the premier league. The problem with the host Liverpool is they had a battling weekend against Reading, their first defeat of the season followed by the champions' league decisive clash against Marseille. Ferguson traveled to Roma with second strings for he already made it to the knock out stage top of the group. Back from the historical away 4-0 victory over Marseille, under pressure Liverpool are in high moral ground to entertain the Devils in front of home support. Can Torres and Crouch deliver the result that could save their manager or could a defeat help them away with Benitez and his rotation? It is at Anfield today.

Not the smartest of moves

I wonder how a man with such high profiled pedigree like EFF president Dr Asheber W/Giorgis ridicules himself now and again.
The most popular EFF president in recent times, Dr Asheber, took less than two seasons to be viewed as the most notorious official in the federation's history.
It was really surprising for many to hear that he ran for presidency of the zonal confederation (CECAFA), despite having a crumbling federation at home. It is truly amazing to see that one would be bold enough to run for such a high post while every one in the confederation knows what is happening around Ethiopian football.
The confederation member nations must have been shocked when Dr Asheber announced his candidacy. It must have been very hard for a candidate not to have his home support. They knew he has no national league federation to run; they knew ten of the clubs boycotted; fixtures take place in an empty stadium; all his cabinet members have resigned except for very few. They have good information that Ethiopian football is a one man show and the federation is under national audit bureau investigation. Add to that his trial and failure to have a rematch of CECAFA championship quarter final when Ethiopia lost to the ultimate champions Zambia and you would note that these are not the reputations one needs to have as a candidate for the zonal presidency.

Tolosa Anbesse won Honolulu 35th marathon edition

Though it appears the battle to win the 33rd Honolulu marathon was between three Kenyans versus a single Ethiopian, Tolosa Anbesse, the truth is, it was a two horserace past the 33kms mark and the last eight kms Anbesse run alone to defend his title for the second successive year.
In the women’s event, Russian Alevtina Biktimirova took the lead at 30kms mark to go all the way to the finishing line followed by pre race favorite Akemi Ozaki.
Famous for its “Aloha Spirit” that keeps the finishing line open until the very last athlete crosses the line - that usually is fourteen hours; the 35th edition brought 27000 athletes out of which 16000 were from Japan. Though the time of finish is the slowest ever in the events history, snatching away the gold medal from those Japanese despite the freezing weather and down pouring rain, Tolosa and Alevtina hailed as heroes at the same time pocketing USD 40,000.
The presence of the events five time champion Kenyan Jimmy Muindi was the real challenge for Anbesse who learnt a lot from his last year’s victory. Jimmy Muindi led the way until the 38KMs mark where the dangerous climb begins. Once started the clkimb it was Anbesse alone and he went all the way to the finishing line clocking 2:17:26 while Muindi crossed the line in 2:18:53 followed by his country men Eric Nzoki and Bonface Mbuvi. Russian Alezsay Alexsandrov finished fifth.
The women’s event was relatively an easy one for the only challenge came from Japanese Akemi Ozaki who in the first place was there as pace maker. Because she had her own plan of finishing the race and no serious challenger came in the picture, Ozaki followed Alvetina Biktimirova to the finishing line. The Russian won the day and the USD 40,000 clocking 2:33:07. Ozaki reached at 2:34:22 followed by world champion steeplechase silver medalist Russian Tatyana Petrova.