Ethiopian women’s squad shine bright in Algiers
Deriba Mergia wins only gold in men’s event

Considered the African Olympics, the All African Games ninth edition closed on Monday with Egypt on top of the medal table closely followed host nation Algeria and South Africa third. Ethiopia finished 10th.
The two week, Africas biggest sport event next to the nation’s soccer cup final brought together the 46 African nations to participate in 27 sports.
Lining up the second biggest number of participants next to the host, Egypt won top sport for grabbing the highest number of gold medals while host Algeria took the highest number of medals in over all count. The five time African soccer champions Egypt collected 198 medals out of which 74 gold 61 silver and 63   bronze. Un folding one of the most colorful all African games Algeria took 204 over all medals with 70 gold 58 silver and 76 bronze. South Africa third in the table with180 medals won 62 gold 65 silver and 53 bronze. Forty-nine gold 58 silver and 54bronze medals home to the continents biggest population number  Nigeria settled fourth with an over all 151  medals.
Kenya took east African top spot with 38 medals out of which13gold, 15silver and 10 bronze far away from second place Ethiopia with only four gold, five silver and ten bronze medals. Of the top five three are The North Africans took three of the top five places to show that they are dominating the event. Eritrea is one of the All African Games 9th edition most admired performer snatching three gold, one silver and two bronze medals. The most precious gold for Eritrea is the ten thousand meter through Zeresenay Tadesse who finished first followed by two Ethiopians Tadesse tola and G/ Egziabher G/ Mariam. Eritrea finished 15th on the medal table.
Criticized for poor results Ethiopia wondered in to a forest to claim 10th place with only four medals. Even though the delegate head Getahun G/ Giorgis tried to over play the achievement saying that the  participation counts more than the quest for medals, the result tells that danger is looming over Ethiopian athletics. The 5000 meter hot favorite Tariku lost not only the gold but also the silver while Janmeda champion Ali Abdosh out of the medal race. Considered the Ethiopian domain the 10000meter also lost to Eritrea. The women squad performed as expected taking both gold medals in the long distance.
World record holder Meseret Defar in 5000 meter, Mestwat Tufa in 1000 meter, Gelete Burka in 1500 meter brought gold with the only gold medal from the men’s squad by Deriba Mergia in men’s  half marathon. This time around Ethiopian women shone much brighter than their opposites.
Though Meseret and Gelete’s effort to win the gold was by no means an easy job taking in consideration that Mestwat is yet to make name in such big events, it is the proudest victory for the home squad. Mestwat had been pressured by two Kenyans the one Edith Massay with the best of experience to frighten any one as green as Mestwat. How ever Mestwat rose to the occasion in such astonishing determination that she stole the gold from under their nose. Forty years old Edith Massay told reporters what a devil young Mestwat and added she could be a mother for the seventeen years old after taking silver.
Tesfalem Gebru in Paralympics 5000 meter, then Meselech Melkamu in women 5000 meter, in women’s half marathon, Astede Bayesa, Taddesse Tola in men’s 10000 meter and Netsanet Achamo in 3000 meter hurdle brought home the five silver medals.

Ethiopian national women Vs Ghana to day

The Ethiopian national women side kicks off its Olympic qualification campaign today encountering visitors Ghanaian Black Queens.
Drawn with African heavy weights South Africa, Nigeria and Ghana, the Ethiopian side, the strongest east African representative expected for an opening victory today in front of the home fans. Going through the hardest pre qualification matches with color the home side has proved one of the strongest in the continent capable of snatching a place for Beijing Olympic as one of the two African representatives. The group winner qualifies direct while the runner-up to a play-off matches against the Latin American runner-up.
Though Ethiopia lost two of the three matches in the All African Games soccer cup final, the coaches claim that the defeat is more to poor tactical discipline and silly mistakes from the defense line. “Other wise we built a strong side ready to battle for a place in the Olympic soccer cup final” said assistant coach Paulos Getachew.
We learnt a lot from the All African Games and back home from Algiers we worked hard on our weakness added the former Ethiopian national side defender now assistant to the side Paulos better known in his nickname Mango.
“Of course, we lost to Nigeria and South Africa in Algiers but our side was technically superior to the two sides. Tactic is what we lack and what our counterparts’ excel” Paulos remarked.
Never lost in front of the home crowed, the Ethiopian national women side expected to keep up the record defeating the Ghanaian Black Queens today. Felt in love with the Women’s national side both for their results as well as their marveling play the home crowed expect no more no less than victory. I am an admirer of the nation’s number one striker Birtukan G/ Kristos and I am sure she will score in this match. The former Ethiopian Coffee and National side star striker Asseged Tesfaye.
Opening the campaign today in Addis Ababa, the home side second matches against South Africa in Johannesburg then against Nigeria in Lagos. Two decisive matches against both Nigeria and South Africa here in Addis Ababa final group match takes place in Accra.
The other group match between Nigeria and South Africa takes place in Johannesburg to day. The match dubbed as the replay of the All African Games cup final encounter eagerly awaited for the home side is to avenge the visitors who won the gold medal in Algiers a week before.

Ethio Investment bag basketball championship

Sponsored by Senegal ambassador to Ethiopia his Excellency Amadu Kebi, the four clubs’ Addis Ababa basketball championship closed on Sunday, Ethio Investment Group taking the title.
The two days tournament that brought four Addis Ababa basket ball teams namely Ethio Investment Group, Ethiopia water works, Testis and Saint Josef Alumni was fully sponsored by the Senegal Ambassador Amadu Kebi. The participant teams for the special tournament likely to become an annual occasion, selected for their standing in the recently ended Addis Ababa championship.
The tournament showed that Ethiopia has a potential to the sport if the likes of Basketball admirers the likes of his Excellency Amadu comes to the picture in regular basis. Even for those who argue it is a sport for taller ones, there happened to be many blessed with the height as well as the talent for the game. In the opening matches on Saturday the reigning Addis Ababa basketball champions Water Works side defeated Testis while Ethio Investment won over Saint Josef Alumini the winners to go through to Sunday’s cup final with the losers for the play-off matches.
The cup final on Sunday at Arat Kilo sport center at the presence of youth and sport deputy minister Ato Abdisa Yadetta and his Excellency Amadu Kebi was the best cup final show downs in recent times. Even the third place play –off was full of magical moments. If basket ball is a sport for tall ones we saw that Ethiopia has also its share of tall ones with marveling talents.
Featuring close battling for second runner-up place Saint Josef Alumini won with a single basket the score line reading 87-86. The crowed applauded Testis for the play-off battle.
The cup final between Ethio Investment Group Vs Water Works called for a full time crowed ecstasy. Both sides with many of the national team players featured well organized in technique and tactic displays before Ethio Investment won 70-67 to take the coveted trophy together with the prize money courtesy of his Excellency ambassador Amadu Kebi.
The champion Ethio Investment took the 3000 ETB prize money while run runner – up Ethiopian water works collected ETB 2000. Third place Saint Josef Alumni received 1500 ETB with fourth place Testis receiving 1000 ETB. The presence of African nation ambassadors, officials from African economic commission, representative of the African Union and other invited guests gave color to the occasion.
Many the spectators and ardent Basketball fans praised the federation for its effort organizing such events and said it should the entire time look for a sponsor if the sport is to survive in the coming times. “Youngsters are coming to the sport but I fear they might be frustrated for lack of enthusiasms for the sport.”remarked a spectator among the crowed.

Seyoum Kebede: Life in Yemen absolute marvel

Contrary to the fact that former Ethiopian national team head coach Sewenet Bishaw narrated to ETV Channel II sports talk show, Yemen league defending champion former Saint George head coach Seyom Kebede told weekly Amharic “ABBI Sport” that life in Yemen is quite comfortable with its league on the way soon to become professional. “I had no idea what Sewnet had said“ABBI Sport news.” Seyoum remarked.
According to Seyoum who is currently on top of the fourteen side Yemen league season in goal difference, neither he or his compatriot Abrham Mebratu head coach to “Al-Hilal” never faced any problem Sewnet claimed as common practice. In his brief statement to the news, Seyoum found Yemen a place quite comfortable to live that he brought his wife and child to stay together. “I felt so alone despite my success in my coaching profession thus I brought my wife and child at the start of the season” he said.
Asked what about the monthly salary and benefits, Seyoum said those rich individuals behind every single club have a dream of making the nation’s foot ball standard to the highest and they are footing big money for the development. “I have never had my salary delayed, rather I am receiving my good salary in time with bonuses and incentives.” Seyoum told ABBI. “I am sure my good friend Abraham is also doing fine and with no complaint so far” he added.
With two rounds to go Seyoum believes that his side has a chance of clinching the title for the second successive season. Al-Saker, the defending champion, has forty points four points down from rival Ahli-Senaa leading the league with forty-four points, two points down from Hassan Abian in second place. Ahli Senaa shot in to first place since appointing an Iraqi head coach in place of Sewnet Bishaw who claims he resigned but ruomer is that he was sacked for not delivering what is expected of him. The side is now in pole position to snatch the title. Ethiopian premier league all time top scorer Yordanos Abay, Anwar Siraj and Bayu Mulu in his squad, Seyoum appears a man in successful coaching carce alreadya popular figure in the country. Seyoum also claimed to extend his good will of providing an intermediate coaching course for the local coaches on two occasions.
What is surprising about the two stories is that the difference is worlds apart. For sure both can not be true at the same time. The conclusion is one of them fabricating his version. The question is why?
Seyoum proved himself as champion and on the way to his second. In the mean time Abraham Mebratu already a seasoned coach in Yemen and the other more than half dozen Ethiopian players including Yordanos Abay never complained about life in Yemen soccer league. How ever, Sewnet with double national title at his belt (of course his club record never to mention with at least two sides relegated) discouraged to be there more than half a season. “It is normal to stay even more than two months with out pay. The soccer in chaos that I advise young players never to set foot in Yemen” was what Sewnet told ETV channel II sport’s talk show.

Wake up call for Ethiopian athletics

The Algeria bound Ethiopian sports delegation returned home Wednesday after collecting 19   medals to sit 13th in the medal table.  Four gold, five silver and ten bronze 19 medals, it is considered as an under achievement compared to neighboring nations Kenya and Eritrea. Not only on the actual battle field but also disorganization was said to contribute for the inferior final medal count. It is to be recalled a Kenyan veteran sport journalist breathed his worry that the late arrival of the Ethiopian athletic squad to host city Algiers would be a set back on the result. True to his prophecy, Ethiopia lost the 10,000 & 5,000 meter gold medals to Eritrean Zeresenay Tadesse and Ugandan Moses Kipsiro respectively.
Kenya won 13 gold, 15 silver and 10 a total of 38 that is double of Ethiopia while little known Eritrea three gold one silver and two bronze a total of six medals. Take out six of the medals Ethiopia won in Taiquando, Chess and Paralympics only thirteen medals remain in the name of athletics, the sport Ethiopia excels. All African Games should have been a stage to introduce up coming new athletes to international competitions. Contrary to the coaches’ high spirit to score the highest ever medal; the result ended the poorest ever. This may be a wakeup call that Ethiopia especially in the men’s long distance has no one to depend on except record holder Kenenisa Bekele. The women long distance squad proved one that might dominate international stage for the coming five or six years.
Obviously the Ethiopian national athletics coaches failed to discover young talents strong enough to follow on Kenenisa’s footstep who at the time was perfect crown prince to time world great distance runner Haile Gebre Selassie. Of course Kenenisa may stay half a dozen years from now in which time a prince might be discovered. What if Kenenisa said enough to long distance to focus in middle distances? What if other nations like Kenya bring a strong squad to out number one man army Kenenisa? When Kenenisa said no for the Mombassa world cross-country championship, he pressured to change his mind for there was no one strong enough to challenge archrivals Kenya. Yes Kenenisa showed how he is world number one until he controversially walked out. Was there any one around at the time? No is the answer. Rather Zersenay of Eritrea appeared a man in waiting to the long distance crown. Why is that enough to have only single world beater at a time instead of five six? It was Haile alone for a decade and is that a must? See how the women’s squad is coming stronger and stronger. The list of Ethiopian women long distance runners: Tirunesh, Meseret, Meselech, Mestwat, Ejegayehu, Worknesh even Gelete Burka show how strong a squad Ethiopia has. Well it may be more of a blessing than a discovery of the likes of Haile and Kenenisa. What about neighboring Kenyans who when ever at international meeting appear with number of athletes with best times. What they failed is to produce a killer athlete like Kenenisa. Other wise it is hard to deny they have the best collection than Ethiopia. Telling the public “this time we are prepared to come back with more medals better than other times” is a joke good enough only for news consumption.
The World Athletics championship is just one month away and Ethiopia must prepare for that big occasion not only with the few super stars but also with some good enough to contend at higher level so that we can say here comes a great talent. I imagine how our coaches are preparing for lame excuses besides preparing for one of the world’s great athletics occasion. I say better work hard to discover or what ever, to produce number of athletes who can battle shoulder to shoulder. Look for a new way, call for a brain storming group how to tackle problems. Copy from others what might fit the Ethiopian way. I am not of the profession, you are the ones with the expertise.

Kenenisa targets Osaka

World long distance double record holder Kenenisa Bekele is on top form in time to reach the anxiously awaited Osaka Japan world athletics Championship this month.
Olympic gold medalist Kenenisa abstaining himself from two of the six golden league athletics meetings, he appeared fit and strong to easily win in Monaco’s Stade Louis de II on Wednesday. Not in his trade mark 5,000 and 10,000 meter that Kenenisa made his latest, rather it is the 3000meter race in which he almost to crush the 7:20:67 record by Kenyan Damier Komen. Twice world best athlete of the season, Kenenisa clocked 7:29:32 in two of his prime targets that is a avenging Australian Craig Maraton and proving himself ready for Osaka. Crushing the 3000 meter record was the only thing that remained from the Monaco Grand Prix agenda.
Another athlete sharing the same dream with Kenenisa, Australian 400 meter hurdles wizard Jana Rawlinson, recorded the third fastest time in an impressive 53:46. Rawlinson who has set her mind on Osaka- Japan told a reporter how sweet her victory is, saying, “what a race!”
South African Mublaeni Mulaudzi won the evenly contested 800 meter in 1:43: 74 followed by Bahrain’s Youssef Saad Kamel in 1:43:87 and Amine Lalou in 1:43"94 from Morocco. All the three front runners set the fastest times of the season.

September is now.

The Ethiopian Football Federation announced the anxiously awaited national federation’s general assembly postponed for two moths.
Heralding the long overdue national assembly for yesterday, the incumbent EFF executive committee cancelled the schedule at the very last hour, to further the date to September. Considering the situation that triggered the premier league club’s boycott in mid-season, the federation’s sudden change of heart surprised many while the run away league clubs currently under a newly found league union opposed the postponement. This is ridiculous for the federation president who took the presidency two years back with all golden promise. “Said a premium league club executive committee member.
After all that divide and rule theatre to smoke out the Addis Ababa six premier league clubs from the regional clubs, then banning the Union Chaisman Abnet G/Meskel, accusing him of defending the Confederation of African Football (CAF). The Dr Asheber led executive committee appeared out of ammunition to face a national assembly.
“I am sure he is cooking things in his favor. His effort to sabotage the national federations assembly failed. He took it to September to make sure no one league club dare oppose him. If means he is scared of the union, otherwise he is under pressure” remarked Desalegn Habte who is confident that Dr Asheber would leave his presidency if the assembly was held.