At twenty three she is on top of world athletics when it comes to the 5000 meters. Olympic gold medalist Meseret Defar is different from many renowned Ethiopian women athletes in one aspect. Unlike the other stars discovered from the country side, mainly Oromia region Meseret is the jewel and pride of the nation’s capital Addis Ababa. Born in 1984 in Addis Ababa, she reached stardom in no time featuring gold medal performance in Athens 2004 Olympics and earned her international acclaim. Then after, except her compatriot Trunesh Dibaba one of the few crown jewels of Ethiopian athletics, no one dare to challenge her. Crushing the two years old 5000 meter world record in New York to set it at 14:24:53 it took her only months to better her own record in eight seconds. Currently the record stands at 14:16:63 and in wait for another record breaking performance from Ethiopian pride Meseret Defar.

Ethiopian national side qualification hangs by a thread

A shocking 3-1 away defeat at the hands of Libya in Tripoli, Ethiopian national side dream to reach to the nations soccer cup final in 2008 Ghana – Accra appeared hanging in a thread. In the mean time, one of the four CAF founding members Sudan returned to the nation’s cup final after 32 years absence with a 2-0 victory over Seychelles. Sudan booked a cup final place with 12 points and a game in hand.
Following the surprise 1-0 home victory over group mighty DR Congo, Ethiopian side seemed once again to be back to the nation’s cup final. But, things got sour in Libya when the hosts hammered the visitors to the biggest ever goal margin in the group qualification campaign.
A 3-4-3 formation at the start only to convert in to 4-2-4, after conceding the first goal and bringing in Tafesse Tesfaye from the bench, the Ethiopian side never to recover from the shock A strong volleyed goal for goalie Sadat’s silly mistake, head coach Tsegaye Desta and assistant Kemal Ahmed failed to reverse the situation in time before the final nail got home. Winning goal scorer against Congo here in Addis Ababa that sent the crowed wild Saladin Saaid lost his target instincts in two occasions missing golden scoring chances from the goal mouth. “The host’s superior performance was not what helped them for the 3-1 victory. Rather it is the home kids’ inferior mental approach that gave them the edge” ETV reporter Alemu Mekonen remarked from Tripoli.
What little to pride is Fikru Teferra’s spectacular consolation goal that put the score line 3-1 at the final whistle. Now it is an up hill journey to Ethiopian side to make it to the cup final even after twenty six years wait. Leading the group with eight points after an away draw in Windhoek, group favorite DR Congo entertains Libya at home for the final match while bottom of the group Ethiopia with six points hosts Namibia with seven. A win in Addis Ababa meant nothing if Congo wins or draws with Libya in Brazzaville. Congo should draw with visitors Libya with seven points and Ethiopian must by half dozen goals crush Namibia in order to join the sixteen nation’s cup final.
Yet to have their respective final round matches eight nations Cameroon, Sudan, Angola, Tunisia, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, South Africa and Morocco already booked places in the sixteen sides nation’s cup final .

Pre Millennium City Circuit in Awassa Today
MOHA & Shell Ethiopia to sponsor event

One of the most famous city circuit venue Awasa home of the biggest ever number of the sport’s fans, blessed to host the historical Ethiopian Motor Association city circuit latest edition Awasa Pre Millennium City Circuit to day.
The Southern people’s Nation and national states capital Awasa, with the highest ever city circuit crowed turn out three years back is best remembered for the love to the sport affectionately applauding the venue’s defending over all champion Samerawit Mebratu. This time the sport’s fans’ misses the one and only women racer Samerawit for personal reason.
Motor sport’s all time strong supporters MOHA Soft Drinks and aggressively backing the sport since recent times, Shell Ethiopia are number one sponsors for the Pre Millennium Awasa City Circuit while Moenco and General Mercantile are also sponsoring the event.
In today’s special event Pre Millennium City Circuit Race, 21 race cars are ready to hit the road in four categories under the morning sun of Awasa, capital to SPNNS as well as a resort retreat.
Class one feature five equally well experienced racers so far with no one as hot favorite to the category title. They are all out to sweat hard before claiming the century’s final motor race.
In class two where seven cars line up, Missalidis together with his equally famous Beetle VW is to face a strong challenge with the group hot favorite Dawit Teshome. Dawit famous for his bold swerves and bends to become the best in city circuit events had been penalized and stripped off his title for his bad behaviour in the recent Addis Ababa held city circuit is once again back to the stage to reclaim his crown as formidable champion in city circuit race.
George Paulo’s expertise in handling his motor has an edge to finish top of class three where three cars are out to a dog fight to the category crown.
In class four the star racer is Awasa’s own son, first timer in a race, Gabriel Tadesse. Though a strong show drown from well experienced and with the events best race car owner Wladimiro Masilo, Tadesse is expected to rise for the occasion in front of his home crowed how ever he is fresh for the sport. Gabriel is expected not to leave a single unturned stone to win the category with five cars. Umberto Gula the seasoned racer is also out to make sure that the title is not to slip out of his hand. Umberto is the hottest favorite to the category title.
Any one who is some one in Ethiopian Motor Sport is in the line up with the only exception is popular Addis Ababa city circuit reigning best of bests champion Ernesto Mollinari who remained absent for personal reason.

ESFNA sport annual edition kicks off July first
Asseged plays for Virginia

Ethiopian Sport Federation in North America (ESFNA) 24th edition annual soccer tournament kicks off Sunday July 1, 2007 in Dallas –Texas. The 23 years old Ethiopian community annual sport festival brings together Ethiopian from all over North American states, Canada and since recent times from Europe, soccer teams for the four days event that ends on America National day July 4th.
As it is customary for the past two decades, the federation calls world renowned artist Laureate Maitre Afework Tekle honorable guest to the tournament. Dallas, the first ever state to win the very first championship title, this time expected to feature the best ever organization while its soccer team an under dog even as a host state.
As many players and visitors from home going every year to be part of now a days an Ethiopian pilgrimage, this time former Ethiopian national team striker Asseged Tesfaye traveled there for his fourth appearance in the tournament. Ethiopian Coffee side all time most popular player Asseged this time plays for Virginia State. Engaged in private business for a living, easy going Asseged is actively participating in Coffee’s club supporter’s association as member of the executive body. According to a former player now in America, “a When Asseged talk, every one at Coffee listens’ is the cliché for his involvement in the club. A bit heavier than his player times, Asseged is one of the most popular soccer stars Ethiopia has ever produced to grace Dallas- Texas.
Former Ethiopia Banks, Saint George and Ethiopian Coffee player Anteneh Feleke has also traveled to take part for the very first time. The giant striker as well as central defender Anteneh, invited to the tournament through Los Angeles state club namely L.A Star, the defending champions. Former Ethiopian national side and Coffee goalie Tadewos Getachew between the goal posts and now with Anteneh to the already strong squad, L.A Star is hottest favorite to retain the title for the second time in successive seasons.

Ethiopian women’s side makes it to the next stage Birtukan hailed rising hero

Star striker Birtukan G/Kristo’s fastest ever international goal helped Ethiopian women national side through to the next qualification stage despite a 2-1 defeat at the hands of host Morocco in Rabat.
With two of the squad members left out at the final minute of the side’s departure,(according to sources to give place for two sport’s journalists on the way to Libya) highly offended Ethiopian team performed heroically to return home jubilant for making it through after an away goal advantage.
Conceding an opening minute goal, the host’s Morocco, featured an aggressive foot ball determined not to surrender in front of the home crowed. The visitor’s a bit worried to keep guard of the single goal held nerves until the first half whistle gone. Back from the dressing room it only took twenty five minutes to the host’s equalizer followed by another ten minutes before the final whistle. Tense and disarrayed for a while the visitors recovered in time to feature a tight defensive play to keep away the host’s strikers for an additional goal. An aggregate 2-2 draw, Ethiopian side goes through to the next phase after an away goal advantage.
Birtukan Gebre Kirstos, the scorer on both home and away legs is on the rise to national stardom as the country’s all time best ever women soccer player. An awesome strike from twenty yards in the first home leg, the striker once again rallied her side to the next qualification stage grabbing the most important away goal. Ethiopian encounter in the final qualification two legs show down is one of the continent’s heavy weights, the winner of South Africa against Ghana two leg encounter.

commentary

End of the dream...?

Ethiopian football is such a surprising enterprise that anything can happen any time through any one. Some times the coming and going or the involvement of anyone makes no difference.
Take the Ethiopian national soccer side that has appointed about eight coaches in less than a year time. In one occasion four coaches were thrown together to the hot seat, an ideal move not to put any one responsible for what ever the end result. As junior as Tesfaye Fetene whose experience even at club level is insignificant let alone for a national side, as experienced as Seyoum Abate, as professionals as Garzietto and Raoul, had been in charge each for a month or two. Two wins at home three away defeats, the side is currently bottom of the table with just six points. Though an impossible task, the side still has a mathematical probability of qualification. Any way, little known at international soccer Kemal Ahmed and Tsegaye Desta took over and some how managed a 1-0 home victory over group favorite DR Congo to rekindle the hope before the nightmare 3-1 defeat in Tripoli. It was a miracle to stay on qualification boat this longer considering what real mess is cooking around the national side. Yet it is Ethiopia, a miracle fountain and still we are there even with a dying breath until the final qualification round.
Foot ball experts say it is a spectator’s sport that with no crowd it as good as a minute of silence in observation or an extended burial ceremony. Penalizing a club to a closed door show down meant such a big deal in European football may trigger a court order to interfere. Yet Ethiopian premier league enjoys an empty stadium in almost all fixtures through out the season but still it exists. Except players, referees, coaches and security policies no one even reserve players do not west time in that big empty bowl some wishes for farming others for a Wal Mart type supermarket. Be hold the premier league is still in high swing.
A sun shine season meant real time for soccer tournament. Those Europeans, cursed not to have such privilege of a lengthy sunny season, are compensated by having best soccer season than we Ethiopians blessed with 13 months of sun shine.It took us more than six months to complete a one round fixture with 16 clubs while those Europe manages a twenty club two round fixture, a knockout championship and Carling Cup tournaments in just nine months time. Is it not a miracle that we can not manage a 16 club two round season under thirteen months of sunshine? This is a football miracle.
At one time Ethiopian football federation runs single handedly and according to many sports’ fans it was better by far than the current situation that has eleven committee members led by a doctor, an instructor and an assistant professor. Tshaye Gebregzabher that one man force once cursed for paralyzing the federation machine is now voted to Sainthood for his successful leadership in running the annual league season smoothly let alone twelve ran away clubs no one club seriously complained about equal and fair treatment while Tshaye was at the helm. You may think an eleven men executive committee to be better in organizing a big under taking. How ever it all is not true when it comes to Ethiopian football.
See what happened when twelve of the sixteen premier league clubs boycotted in mid season. The federation president who came to power only to serve them told them he is more powerful than any of them and better they line up and salute him in time. Just try me was his message and they are trying him. How ever we all are still breathing football despite the chaotic situation looming over. After all it is in Ethiopian football.