By Michael Samson Twice Ethiopian premier league champions Electric appointed Englishman Ken Morten to the hot seat since two years ago and yet never to collect the fruits of having a foreigner coach. Though, Morten, claims to have been with Manchester United together with the likes of the legendary Georgie Best and company, his rich experience in the sport has so far failed to deliver let alone silverware even an honorable spot in the league table. with Five defeats in twelve matches, it is a bit too much to convince club supporters that the man is sweating hard.
Meseret shattered record by the skin of her teeth However her dream to crush Boston 3000 meter indoor record failed due to cold weather, Olympic 5000 meter gold medalist Meseret Defar made her dream come true in Stuttgart – Germany.
Last year IAAF Special Award winner for achievement Meseret not only crushed the one year old 3000 meter indoor record but did it in style, slashing more than four seconds from the previous one held by Lilia Shobukora. At last year European athletics championship in Moscow, the Russian Shobukora clocked 8:27:86 only to give it away in less than twelve months for Meseret whose father’s name Defar means ’Bold’ in English.
What was astonishing in the race was fresh from indoor athletics meeting young Meselech Melkamu’s performance to raise hell on her compatriot Meseret Defar the ultimate winner. The tree time world cross country medalist Meselech in her debut race challenged Meseret until the very end to finish second only two micro seconds late. Meseret set the new record in 8:23:72 while Meselech clocked 8:23:74. According to Meseret she was checking every step on Meselech through the giant screen in the stadium and that helped her much to finish number one. “I was quiet astonished watching the new record time. I was sure to break the record. But less than 8:26 seconds it is unbelievable. Of course had I not been extra careful once I read Meselech’s determination, I might even finish the race in 8:20.” “said Olympic gold medalist already hot favorite for the season’s world best athlete of the season. Jo Pavel of England came third in 8:31:50 a new record for her country.
Though twelve new records broken in Stuttgart, Meseret and Meselech’s neck to neck race then both shattering the year old record shadowed most of the events. Of those shadowed by the duo’s achievement is former world best woman athlete of the season Yelina Esinbayeva. The Russian Pole Vault wizard cleared 4:82 meters to keep on setting new records where ever she visits. Awed in admiration in her performance the event organizers presented Esinbayeva a special award.
In other international athletics meeting held in New York – USA, last week record breaker Tirunesh Dibaba took the 3000 meter track gold medal winning the race in 8:46:58. Setting new world record in Boston just a week before, the only woman athlete in the planet to win 5000 and 1000 meter world champion gold medal Tirunesh appeared an obsessed angle to win everything in sight then soar to athletics eternity as the first Ethiopian woman athlete to crown world best athlete of the season. Following Tirunesh American duos Sara Hull and Jene Rennes came second and third respectively. Ethiopian Sentayehu Ejigu finished fourth.
Olympic team returns with astonishing 3-1 victory Two super strikes in five minutes, the Ethiopian national Olympic side returned home with the most colorful away victory. The Algerian bound Olympic team comprised of many players who had been squad members of the national senior side achieved what is an impossible task in away matches. Hardly successful in obtaining information about the Algerian Olympic team, at least a draw or to the worst, a narrow defeat was what was in the minds of the public. However, not only a 3-1 victory but also the players performance and determination was said to be most amazing.
Head coach Tesfaye Fetene’s formation with two strikers had been the key to Ethiopian team domination from the start. The squad that defeated Tanzania for the qualification campaign of the All African Games currently appears a side matured for international matches. “The 3-1 win over host Algeria shows that Ethiopia might still have a future in football” declared a former youth player.
It took half an hour before the visitors caught napping Algerian defense through Bezuneh Worku. Taking the lead the visitors felt confident to go attacking only to soccer fantastic goal trough Tafesse Tesfaye five minutes later. With 2-0 score line at half time the hosts returned in high determination to reverse the situation. Ethiopian team stood strong both in midfield and defense until the 84th minute when the Algerians converted a life line controversial penalty. It took only two minutes before Saladin said hammered in the final blow to settle the soccer line in with 3-1 victory. The return leg takes place after two weeks here in Addis Ababa in front of the home crowd.
24th Ethiopian Highland
Rally Starts Friday Postponed from its original date for the unexpected heavy rains, the 24th Ethiopian Highland Rally takes place starting on Friday. The three days race which covers 1212km of Eastern Shoa’s rough brings brought together 12 strong willed racers cushioned by the new Ethiopian Motor Sport partner Shell Ethiopia’s sponsorship.
As title sponsor for the 24th Ethiopian High Land Rally the millennium’s last occasion, Shell Ethiopia has provided the association with full covering of the sponsorship together with the company’s good will for any future under taking.
The three day show down kicks off Friday at 11:00Pm from traditional starting spot Meskel Square. The second day Saturday would bring the toughest challenge among the racers covering close to 600kms. The second day’s race stays until 10 o’ clock in the evening a new experience in recent times. The final leg takes place on Sunday. The association has invited fans to be part of Sunday evening’s reception party at Meskel Square to honor those who successfully accomplish the three day 24th Ethiopian High Land Rally.
Congo wins African youth
soccer championships Thrashing the likes of African soccer powers Nigeria, Cameroon , Ivory Coast and Egypt on the way to the African youth soccer cup final ,host nation Congo have won the championship title.
When Nigeria came out victorious in the semi final clash against tournament surprise package Gambia, many who considered as experts of African football suggested the
defending champions would claim the title for a record six times with ease. However, the cup final once again showed why football is the most popular world sport.
At the start of the cup final where eight nations took part, the group stage brought African soccer super powers Egypt, Nigeria and Cameroon in group one with under dog Zambia thrown into the lions den. Where as in group two, host nation Congo, Gambia and Burkina Faso brought together with Ivory Coast as hot favorites to finish on top. To many football critics former Olympic champions Cameroon and Nigeria from group one Ivory Coast and host Congo from group two were. most expected to go through top to the semi final stage.
However little known Gambia surprised the group stage crushing the so called soccer powers to go through to the semi final stage together with host Congo. The one defeat in the group stage appears to strengthen the host nation's determination for the title.
From group two the heavy weights cancelled each other out to give place to unexpected end result from which Zambia made it to the semi final following the defending champions Nigeria. Once in the semi final Nigeria became the single hot favorite to win for a record six times.
At the semi final clash between Gambia and Nigeria, the tournaments best show down the defending champions scored the only goal of the match nineteen minutes in to the. First half. Had it been for the hard work of the Gambians, victory should have been their but for failure of finding the target even from close range. In the other semi final clash, the Zambians rattled the host nation's squad out shining them through out. Until the 73rd minute Zambia held the hosts goal less despite missing good goal scoring chances.
Quarter of an hour to the final whistle, Haris Tshelembo just two minutes from the bench regally took control of the ball in the box to convert it to a marvelous winning goal. The unlucky Zambians lost 1-0 to Congo the cup finalist.
The cup final show down between Congo and Nigeria was a single goal theater on behalf of Congo the host nation. After goal less first half hot favorite Nigerian’s came out in to an all out attack in which time the hosts dashed for the winning goal through Franchel Ebara. It was heart breaking for the young Eagles while a celebration party for all Congolese. The tournament's surprise package Gambia came from a goal down to win 3-1 to claim the bronze medal. Congo, Nigeria, Gambia and Zambia booked their place in the world youth championship
commentary
What is EFF waiting for ? The problem with the incumbent Ethiopian football federation executive committee is the failure to tell the public what is really happening surrounding the sport. What ever speculation flies around to harm the reputation of the federation those concerned seem not worry about it. “Let them speculate, what difference could they make. “this seems the strategy for the unpopular federation.
Case in point currently the Ethiopian national side has no designated coach despite the deciding encounter against Democratic Republic Congo is less than seven weeks away. Yet neither as good as speaker of the federation Dr. Asheber W/Giorgis nor some times out of the cage federation secretary Ashenafi Ejigu dare to tell the public why is the vacancy still standing once Garzietto and assistant Rauol officially left their appointment. Well, it may take time to deliberate the case then take action in due time. However the federation did not even tell the public that is what they are doing right now. I am sure they are cooking something behind closed doors but forgotten that time is against us. Further more I smell a rat that they are cooking some thing.
What I didn’t understand about the waiting is whether there is any hope the two foreigners would change their mind after all that strong press release cursing EFF in general, Dr. Asheber in particular. They already called May Day from Ethiopian soccer and safely landed at the Zurich FIFA headquarter claiming they are cheated out of their contract by EFF. In my opinion the matter reached to the point of no return. It went too far to a reverse action.
Therefore why the federation is waiting to appoint someone to go on preparing the national side for the coming big clash against Congo is amazing. We are not to forget that DRC is one of West African strong sides featuring the likes of Lumanua Lua Lua who spear heading an English premier league club. The legal proceeding I think is not the business of the public whose only dream is to see Ethiopian national side in action for the most talked about qualification campaign to the nation’s cup final after three decades. EFF secretary Ashenafi Ejigu told VOA Sport that Garzietto and Rauol’s contract agreement was for 44 days and rights then it is in his hand to fax them. If the federation is so confident of contract breach by the two foreigners why it is hesitant to take the next move which is appointing a new one the least from home front is weird. It may be too late to find a foreigner who would jump on the ship of qualification. Why not an Ethiopian one?
The well founded rumor goes that Ethiopian business tycoon Sheik Mohammed Al Amoudi had a blessing over the expense to the national side qualification campaign buttered with million birr. If so, why not convince premier league club coaches to break their contract with their respective clubs. It is only a matter of money to break the dead lock. I think it is the sooner the better to appoint head coach for the national side that for sure Ethiopia would not walk out of the qualification campaign. Why slowing down for the inevitable?
I have a suggestion that EFF better look for well known European manager with African experience just for a first six months term. Give him every power to shake up the existing regime and set standards and new structure. Then see his achievement and decide weather to extend his contract or terminate. That might help Ethiopian football rather than the current EFF day dream of qualification for the 2008 cup of nations. According to roamer money is there in abundance and paying his wage would be no problem. Anyways give us someone for the national hot seat. |
