Two important international goals in two different matches in two days, the rising soccer star Saladin Said appeared to reach to national hero status in no time. Young Saladin was discovered from the most unlikely source of Benshangul region. The Mugher Cement FC striker is not only helping his side and the national team but also stirred Benshangul to first ever all Ethiopian games soccer cup final only to lose to Southern Region. Saladin came out as the tournament’s best player and his younger brother as top scorer. With deadly finishing and finishing touch, Saladin seemed to reach top of the nation’s strikers level in no time.

Birtukan’s stunning goal helps Ethiopia to home win,
Olympic side fail to impress

Top scorer of Ethiopian women’s national championship for the last two successive seasons, Birtukan Gibre Kristos once again featured her stunning shot to help the home side to a 1-0 first leg home victory. What a curling high volley sent from twenty meters to find the back of the net! The crowd erupted for the sensational goal from Birtukan.
Four consecutive years with out a home defeat, the Ethiopian women’s national soccer side is now ninety minutes away from booking a place to the 2008 Beijing Olympic Women’s soccer cup final. The return leg in Rabat –Morocco is in a fortnight. A win or a draw would take the Ethiopian team to African nation’s Olympic qualification group stage.
With abundant individual talents in display, the home team’s an all out attack tactical play was not so strong on the first half despite the visitors negative approach that is an all out defense spare an only striker in front. “Clear out the ball as far away from your own half” must be the day’s tactic from Moroccan coaches who spent much time shouting from the touchline. Even in defense, the two central defenders were the only two to show guts and high spirit. A nightmare for the right full back, dribbling with ease Birtukan and her compatriot and equally famous goal poacher Addis Feleke’s personal effort to add some more goals failed to the disappointment of the half filled yet vocal crowd. The half-filled stadium chanted loud to motivate the home side for more goals that never saw light. Considering the superior ball possession and well-organized play Ethiopian Women soccer side should have finished off the match at home.
Even in the second half, the visitors choose to stay on their own turf in fear of additional goals that might end their dream of winning the return home leg. In most of the second half it was more of an individual effort from left-winger Birtukan and striker Addis than the team tactic that threatened the visitors back four.
It was a fantastic home victory with lots of talents in the show. How ever, having a decisive away return leg head coach …..and assistant Beletish G/Mariam need to build a strong back four to stop the not so frightening Morocco strikers as well as a formidable striking force to settle the case even it is in foreign land.
In the mean time highly regarded Ethiopian national Olympic side thrown away an early minute lead to settle for a 2-2 home draw in its opening Beijing Olympic qualification campaign. Despite fielding strikers from the senior side, Fikru Teferra, Tafesse Tesfaye and Saladin Saaid the Olympic team performed well below the public expectation. Two international wins in two consecutive days the home crowed expected another win but returned home disappointed. Many heard complaining over head coach Tesfaye Fetene for calling to his squad the senior players just two days after that heart swelling victory over DR Congo in the nation’s qualification campaign return leg.
Saladin grabbed the opening eight minutes into the game and spectators awaited to a rain fall of goals to come. How ever the visitors’ South African Olympic side relatively better organized and full of individual talents held strongly while the home side tends to relax. The visitors’ hard work paid-off at first half injury time grabbing an equalizer. Back from the dressing room with same cool and the gang mood the home side failed to dictate the match despite they are backed behind by the home crowed. Feeling bolder and bolder when minute’s ticked by, South African side went further scoring a second half goal to lead the game. It was at the final minutes the equalizer came wrapped in a penality kick. Tafesse Tesfaye converted the penalty to give the home side the chance to share points. Being drawn in the group of death the Ethiopian Olympic side should have performed better than a home draw against the relatively humble side of the group.

“Forget a short cut for EFF presidency” EFF president Dr Asheber

Ethiopian foot ball federation president Dr Asheber W/Giorgis denounced the seven Addis Ababa premier league clubs accusing them of a gang –up to over throw the incumbent executive committee.
Following the seven Addis Ababa Premier League clubs gathering to a common stand that is to quit from the season’s on going championship for shortage of annual budget and dissatisfaction of the executive committee’s administration, EFF president Dr Asheber for the very first time called a press conference at his office and said that he is not to compromise with those who rebelled to over throw the executive committee. “Since the clubs approach is illegal, the executive committee by no means to come into the terms” remarked Dr Asheber who had been in the shadow at the start of the confrontation.” We are to proceed with the remaining nine clubs. Even if all the clubs said no. the league competition is to continue “added the president.
According to Addis Zemen sport’s page the president remarked that the executive committee is not to acknowledge any of the twelve points forwarded by the runaway seven clubs. “There are some individuals to exploit the situation as a short cut grab the leadership” said Dr Aseber the president who battled for years to reclaim his presidency.
Asked why the national federation’s annual general assembly did not take place in the past two seasons, the president said that it will take place when and where the federation thinks convenient. He added that the government knows why EFF did not call the national assembly.
The situation turned out as sudden confrontation between the capital city clubs and EFF executive committee now the development is taking a new dimension. Even though the federation announced the season to presume as of yesterday, the clubs appear to stick to their firm stand of abstaining. The federation declared that the season presumes with the closing day in the first week of July. The remaining ten round matches are to take place in four weeks time.
Many got surprised for the unexpected EFF confrontation against the seven premier league clubs. Those who followed the development from the start suggested that the executive committee should have better called those clubs for a round table discussion for the sake of the nation’s football.” The federation is as good as a father with the clubs as children. Hence a father is in no way to turn his back in his children even if they sinned.” remarked “FANA Radio” sport reporter.

EFF president’s hard ball appears to backfire
Abnet leads the league union

Five regional premier league clubs joined the run away seven Addis Ababa clubs to form a provisional premier league union. The union that comprised of Saint Gorge, Ethiopian Coffee, Electric, Defense Force, Insurance, Ethiopia Banks and Nyala now strengthened with the addition of five clubs namely Shashemene Kenema, Tikur Abay Transport, Methara Sugar, Adama Kenema and Harar Brewery. The twelve clubs union called a press conference on Thursday at Desalegn Hotel to fire back the federation’s ultimatum to presume the season as of yesterday. The twelve clubs’ Union told reporters that unless the federation executive committee comes with answers for the twelve point club’s’ resolution, we are not to comply with its latest announcement that is the re start of the league season.
‘We are here to seek justice and good administration. No one here is interested to over throw the executive committee for the sake of personal gain. ”remarked the provisional union chair person Abenet Gebre Meskel also Saint George board chairman.
“The federation must call the national assembly and discuss about the problem. They should get rid of power addiction” Abnet added.
One of the regional clubs that joined the union Adama Kenema FC official Ato Gezahne Lemma in his part said EFF failed to keep its promise since two years back that is to give away the administration of clubs to league committee. “We are here to pressure the federation keep its promise, to fair and equal treatment of clubs and battle against dictator ship “remarked Ato Gezahne.
Ato Amare W/Semaiat from Shashemene Kenema stated why his club joined the union that is to force the federation to come to a round table discussion with the clubs and unchain the negative influence of the federation on regional clubs. “The federation’s stand to call only the Addis Ababa premier league clubs for discussion shows how regional clubs are treated.” Amare stated to the conference.
“We only asked for a transparent administration. We neither rebelled nor demanded a take over.” Ethiopian Coffee board member Lieutenant Fekade addressed the conference.
Asked what if EFF fail to comply with their demand, the union under lined that the going to world soccer governing body is still an open option. The union’s common consent is that if the federation executive committee said no to their twelve points’ resolution, they are sorry not to take part in the league competition.

Sport commentary

Women’s soccer deserves better

It was so fascinating a watching the Ethiopian women’s national side displaying their talent over Morocco on the week end. The ball control, dribbles, the one-two short passes, sudden strikes from afar, comfortably chesting balls, flying tackles, high headers-all were in the display that the crowd stayed in fascination until the final whistle. I swear it should have been settled for more goals considering the superior performance of our girls. Any way since a win is the most important factor I and my friends, mesmerized by what we witnessed, started throwing opinions on the way home.
My friend who has returned after twelve years in England, asked me from which clubs they were selected and how much they earn monthly. “What a talent they have. These girls need special attention,” he said. I told him that very few clubs, notably Ethiopian Coffee and MEDCO College and few others really have women’s soccer clubs. As to how much they earn, I told him it was as good as nothing. I think MEDCO gives scholarships while Coffee may food and showers after training.
One of my friends said that there are some girls from his neighborhood who play for clubs and he always feels sorry for them specially when meeting them after practice. “They all the way home after practice, with some pasta and bread for lunch.” he told our friend from London.
Another added the misery of women footballers in Addis Ababa. “Until very recently any body who felt that coaching is an easy matter, simply calls them from his locality and starts giving orders. Because they just want to play, they are happy and feel lucky even having that chap with them to prevent small boys from stealing away their ball.” He gave further details about women footballers in Ethiopia.
Add to that they have been even forgotten from receiving sport assortments while the national senior and Olympic side players all have their share. Of course, EFF president Dr Asheber, reached in time to save the players from disappointment. Anyways the incident still remains as a case in point to show how hard life is for the women footballers.
My friend from London quenched filled his thirst for women’s football and asked what must be done to save the players as well as the sport before all hell broke looses and every one calls May Day. Well, the question still stands looking for a real time solution from every direction. Not only from the Federation and not only from company owners. We, the sport’s believers all need to come up with ideas on how to help women’s soccer in Ethiopia. My friend has already started coining some ideas. At least let us talk about it at national level.

Tirunesh Dibaba soars high in New York Mestwat makes new athletics history

The only women athlete in the planet to win double world champion 5000 & 10000 meters gold medals in a single event, Trunesh Dibaba won the New York 5000-meter grand prix in style. However, the youngest ever world champion failed her dream of breaking the world record held by compatriot Meseret Defar, she managed to clock the fastest time of the season. “I am happy for what I performed in New York. How ever, the strong wind deprived me the chance to set a new world record, ever smiling Trunesh told reporters after the victory.
In the highly regarded New York 5000- meter grand prix, many world-renowned athletes took part and there was an awesome expectation from spectators for strong show down to come among the hot favorites. How ever, hottest favorite Tirunesh dominated the event to take the gold with no one coming close behind. Tirunesh took the gold medal thirty five seconds earlier than second place Netherlands’s Kimberly Smith who clocked 15:10: to win the silver medal. Ethiopian women rising long distance star Ahaza kiros finished in 15:18:25 to claim the bronze.
The men’s 5000- meter gold medal went to currently world number one distance runner Kenenisa Bekele’s younger brother Tariku Bekele. Bettering last years’ Kenyan Abraham Chebi’s winning time by 0.51 Micro seconds Tariku’s dream of setting a new record failed due to the absence of strong pace makers who quit early in the race. According to news- reports, had the pace makers stayed longer and stronger further on the roads, Tariku could have achieved his dream. Leading for most of the distance, Tariku snatched the gold medal in 13:04:06. Kenyan duos Mikah Congo and Edwin Soy came second and third respectively. Congo clocked 13:13:53 while Edwin finished in 13:16:68.
Nevertheless the most astonishing victory of the event belonged to Mestewat Tadesse who won silver medal in the not so popular among Ethiopians 1500 meter race. Mestewat wrote a new chapter in Ethiopian middle distance history coming in 4:07:45 following well experienced Malindi Eimore of Canada who took the gold medal in 4:07: 01. In 4:08:07, Vaine kelpeper of US America took bronze.
In athletics news world cross country silver medalist Meselech Melkamu finished second in Glasgow- Scotland 5000 meter Grand prix athletics meeting. Kenyan Vivian Cheriot snatched the gold medal while diehard Meselech settled for second place.