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Saints take on Stars in Congo today

Ethiopian Premier League defending champions Saint George will take on Congolese side Etoile D’ Congo in Brazzaville for the second leg of the African champions league. St George won the first leg 1-0 at the Addis Ababa Stadium.
Though St George dominated the whole game, the strike force failed to score more than one goal. The way the Saints started the game and they way they ended it were two different stories.
Uche, the Nigerian striker and Binyam Assefa replaced Jeffery and Andualem Nigussie respectively in the second half as the first pair missed several good scoring chances. The substitution paid off as Binyam’s shot ricocheted off the cross bar, but Uche was at the right place to head in the winning goal.
St George fans were skeptical in accepting the newly appointed Serbian coach, but Sunday’s dismal performance of their team has led them to fully oppose the coach. With just a marginal victory, Saint George faces Etoile D’ Congo today in Brazzaville.
Ugandan goal keeper Kalius Bula and central defender Degu Debebe, who missed the first leg due to injury, will join the tea at a crucial time. Deyas Adugna deputized for Bula in the home match, but wasn’t tested at all as the opposition’s attack was kept at bay by the St George defenders.
Etoile D’Congo is expected to field an all out attack for the return leg as they can’t afford to lay back and let the Ethiopians knock the ball around. The return of one of the best defensive midfielders in Ethiopia - Degu - should be a plus for Saints.
Deyas, Samson, Hassen, Samuel, Abebaw, Mulualem (captain), Abraham, Bajope, Dawit, Binyam, Yared, Jeffery, Uche and Andualem, Degu and Kalius are those expected to line up for the big clash.
In related news, Saints biweekly news paper ‘Lesane Giorgis’ disclosed that the visitors stay in Addis was filled with provocation and indiscipline that they even decided not to use the club’s guest bus. They weren’t even willing to take their meal at the Wabe Shebele Hotel where they were staying.
The team’s request to go to their hotel in a mini-bus or on foot and not in the guest bus was strongly denied by CAF officials. According to the news paper all this drama was to make it look like they were ill treated in Addis.
We wish that the Saints take care and win the important away match in Congo. We also call on CAF officials to see to it that there is no repeat of what happened to St George in Ghana last year.

Unity in Diversity: All Ethiopian Games in full swing

The first ever All Ethiopian Games opening ceremony was the most spectacular event organized in Ethiopia that it was more of an exhibition of the nation’s beauty in diversity than a simple sport festival opening.
The event that lasts for two weeks brings together more than 3000 athletes from all over the country representing nine regions and two administrations. The athletes would take part in 17 different types of sport disciplines. The event opening parade, which unfurled cultural dances from all participating regions, was fascinating enough to make the crowd go wild.
Addis Ababa, emblazoned with the message ‘Addis Ababa home of nation & nationalities and center for African culture and history’, provided the highest number of athletes at 648 while Afar Region provided the least number of athletes at 71. Oromia has the second largest number of athletes at 583, Amhara third with 325, Tigray fourth with 325, SNNPR with 265, Somali Region with 228, Dire Dawa with 212, Benshangul with 200 and Gambela with 160, bringing the total number of athletes to 3050.
The opening race of the tournament was the 5000 meter race, and the first gold went to Addis, thanks to Bekana Dibaba who beat pre-race favorite Ali Abdosh.
Paralympics was part of the tourney and it also brought together several disabled athletes from all over the country.
Tigray region claimed two gold medals in the Paralympics table tennis, while Benishnagul claimed one gold medal. The women’s wheelchair table tennis title went to Genet Kelila and Fantaye Tilahun both form Oromia Region.
In the women’s 100 meter dash, Bethlehm Shewtatek won gold, finishing the distance in 12:25 seconds while Mantegbosh Melese from Amahra took silver followed by Messay Mengeste who took the bronze.
The high jump gold medal went to Agolas Ubang who cleared 3:50 meters. Seatu Tilahun took silver with Yared Assefa finishing third.
In the women’s 10,000 meter final, a strong showdown saw Ashu Kasim form Addis Ababa win the race in 35:02 minutes, while Getahun Habtu from Tigray came in ten seconds later to take silver.
Tilahun from Addis Ababa took bronze in 35:44 minutes. The event will continue until the coming Sunday.

Meskel square hosts Addis city circuit today

Pirelli Tyre sponsors races

After being postponed for a week due to the opening ceremony of the first ever All Ethiopian Games, this season’s second Addis Ababa city circuit race takes place today at the Meskel Square.
After being aggressively pursued by the Ethiopian Motor Association (EMA), Trans Ethiopia Pirelli Tyre Unit has agreed to fully sponsor the occasion where the likes of defending champion Dawit Mebratu, the veteran Gula Brothers, Missalidis with his fascinating Beetle Volks Wagon are ready to battle it out for the millennium’s last Addis city circuit championship.
In a brief telephone statement, EMA’s Public Relations and Marketing Officer Tsega Kumelachew said that the event will have a special chapter in the associations history. “We expect this to be the best race in the association’s history so far. It will also bring a record number of participants to the race,” he added.
The association has by far proved to be the most effective sport association in Ethiopia. Though it doesn’t have as much funds at its disposal as it might need, it has been organizing successful races for the past few years. EMS invites car racing fans to come to the Meskel Square and be part of the millennium’s final Addis city circuit race for free.

Zeritu defends fiancé’s soccer failure

Ethiopia’s latest music darling Zeritu Kebede was quoted by ‘Rose’ magazine, saying that her husband was forced to quit playing soccer ‘because the football in Ethiopia was not up to his standard’.
In her brief interview with Rose magazine, the 23 year old - then in the final phase of her pregnancy - said that Lakachew Mengestu, son of Ethiopian soccer legend Mengestu Worku, is hard working and brilliant, but has so far failed to impress the local soccer coaches which of course, according to her is not up to his class.
“Lakachew is my fiancé, my husband, my friend, my lover and above all my baby’s father. Currently he is with out a club because he couldn’t fit into the local clubs,” the famous singer was quoted in the magazine.
Lakachew Mengestu, who according to many is his father’s favorite, tried to make a name for himself by joining St George’s junior club, the club where his father made history with.
Though his fiancé believes otherwise, Lakachew has failed to get into the books of Ethiopian coaches.

Ethiopian women trounce Liberian counterpart

The Ethiopian women’s Olympic team reached the quarter final stage of the African Olympic soccer qualification campaign by trouncing Liberia 5-0 on aggregate.
Though the home side sealed their quarter final place at home with a 3-0 victory, the Ethiopian side was determined to take the game out of the Liberian’s hands by beating them 2-0 in Monrovia.
Addis Feleke started the onslaught flashing a volley over the cross bar just a minute into the game, with more attempts and goals to come. The scoreline however doesn’t tell the whole story as the home side dominated the game, but failed to find the target. Addis, Tutu Belay and player of the match Birtukan GibereKristos all went very close in the first half, leaving the spectators breathless. At exactly the half hour mark, Tutu Belay’s searching cross found Addis, who angled a shot past the Liberian keeper and into the net.
Being a goal down and loosing the midfield domination forced the Liberians to make the game more physical as tackles started flying in frequently. The referee couldn’t control the game and with just four minutes to go t half time, Liberia’s number 14 was sent off, literally killing the visitors’ dream of scoring more goals.
In the second half, the home side made no substitutions, but came with a different formation, with the Ethiopian side making two substitutions. The Ethiopians went in for the kill, but the tactical change made by the Liberians was very clever that they did not even miss the red carded player. Nothing could however inspire the home team to make a come back. Finding the back of the net was actually easier for the visiting side that has been on the back foot for most of the second half. Hiwot Rega came off the bench and volleyed home to seal an emphatic aggregate victory for the Ethiopian side.
Tegenewrok Berhanu, head coach to Ethiopian team told reporters after the match that the performance in Monrovia was by far superior than the first leg. He said that he had expected his team to score more than two goals.
In related news, Beletsih Gebremariam, the only female instructor in Ethiopia said that the quarter final stage would be the most trying since Africa’s heavy weights have also booked their place.
“If things got smooth, we can perform a miracle,” Youth and Sport Minster Wro. Aster Mamo said.

McClaren plays it safe with squad
Barton, Right-Phillips left out

England coach Steve McClaren delivered no surprises in his squad for the Euro 2008 ties against Israel and Andorra.
Manchester City’s Joey Barton, Aston Villa’s Gareth Barry and Chelsea’s Shaun Wright-Phillips are left out after the defeat against Spain.
McClaren’s main dilemma will be at left-back, where he will choose between Jamie Carragher and Phil Neville.
Ashley Cole is suspended for the Israel game, but can play against Andorra, while Wayne Bridge is injured.
Preston’s David Nugent must await the outcome of the weekend’s Premiership games before discovering if he will be promoted from the under-21 squad preparing to face Italy at Wembley.
McClaren watched the 21-year-old play against Ipswich in the Championship game on Tuesday.
“I would have no hesitation, through his performances in the Under-21s, to put him in the squad,” said McClaren.
England have injury worries over Aaron Lennon, whose knee injury has flared up again, but Rio Ferdinand has recovered from a cracked rib during Manchester United’s FA Cup tie at Middlesbrough.
The England boss has been impressed with Nugent, adding: “He’s got a lot of goals in the Championship, every season he does that.
“Internationally you look at the Under-21s and if he can score at that level, and he has done.” The England coach has also backed Tottenham’s Aaron Lennon, 19, to handle the pressure of the crucial matches.
“Aaron came into the World Cup squad and excited us from day one,” said McClaren.
“He still has a long way to go but he has a lot of potential and we expected to see a lot more of him this season than we actually have because of illness and injuries.
“We need experience in this game but he has been to a World Cup, so I have no hesitation putting him into my squad.”
Lennon is expected to start on the left of midfield for the match in Tel Aviv on 24 March, ahead of Kieron Dyer and Stewart Downing.
Illness and injury have restricted the Tottenham player to just three substituted appearances since McClaren succeeded Sven-Goran Eriksson last summer.
Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard is set to be named on the right of a four-man midfield which will feature Owen Hargreaves and Frank Lampard in the middle.
McClaren is hoping to select Robinson in goal, with Jamie Carragher at left-back, Gary Neville at right-back and John Terry alongside Rio Ferdinand in the centre of defence.
Wayne Rooney is expected to play alongside Andy Johnson in attack if all come through their weekend Premiership fixtures unscathed - with Darren Bent and Jermain Defoe also in line for a call-up.
Meanwhile, if Nugent appeared for England he would be the first Preston player to do so since Sir Tom Finney in 1958. Liverpool-born Nugent joined North End - currently fourth in the Championship - from Bury for £100,000 in January 2005.
He has been named in the England Under-21 squad to play against Italy at Wembley on 24 March.

Ethiopia out of All African Games

The Ethiopian national team was kicked out of the All African Games qualification campaign following a 4-2 aggregate defeat. With no clear demarcation whether the team is an Olympic team, a national team or an All African Games outfit, the squad traveled to Egypt with a 2-0 advantage, only to return with a heavy 4-0 defeat in Alexandria, Egypt.
The Egyptian side took full advantage of home soil, and could have scored more than four goals had it not been for goalkeeper Samson Assefa’s heroics. The last 20 minutes were a nightmare for Samson, but the keeper saved a number of goal attempts by the Egyptian side. The game in Alexandria, 235 km from Cairo, was off limits for Ethiopian TV crew, but the game was transmitted live via Arab channels.
According to ETV reporter Tadele Assefa, the match took place in front of the biggest ever collection of fans who were invited to the game for free, a notion that totally overwhelmed the Ethiopian side. Just eight minutes into the first half, Egyptian number eight Ahmed Samir volleyed home to open the flood gate. Two minutes from the break, the hosts scored from the penalty spot to march into the dressing room with a two goal lead.
Egypt’s Portuguese coach had promised that the return leg in Egypt would not be as easy and the addition of three professional players to his squad was well felt by the Ethiopian side.
The Ethiopians started the second half more brightly and even had two goal attempts saved by the keeper. The Egyptians started the second half unchanged, but held on their nerves until the last 20 minutes of the game. In the latter stages of the game, striker Andualem was red carded, leaving the front line empty and the pressure was on the Ethiopian defense and keeper Samson.
Midfielder Mohamed Abdul and striker Moahmed Rago scored sucessively in the dying minutes to take the aggregate score to 4-0. According to Tadele, the Libyan referee had been as good as an additional striker for the hosts. He said that the Egyptians were awarded an unfair penalty and Andualem was sent of for a no good reason. However, Tadele applauded goal keeper Samson for his gallantry in saving the side form further humiliation.
“I really admire goal keeper Samson for his one man show, but apart from that, we exploited the team’s shaky defense,” said Egypt’s coach.

COMENTARY

EFF half hearted on national team

Former national team and Omedla FC player Tesfaye Fetene has become the fourth coach to take over the national team in under a year’s time. Six months into the CAN campaign, three coaches have been appointed and embarrassingly sacked. Sewnet Bisahw, who won the CECAFA title twice, was the first and stayed with the team until the first leg away match against Namibia.
After a disappointing 1-0 home win against Libya, Sewnet resigned from his post, claiming that he had made a deal with a Yemeni premier league team. Following Sewnet’s departure, Seyoum Abate came into the picture for the umpteenth spell only to coach the team for the 1-0 away deafeat to Namibia. Seyoum never had enough time to build his own team, and his defeat led to the Ethiopian Football Federation (EFF) to appoint Diego Garzito in his stead. Considering the EFF’s half hearted preparation for the campaign, Seyoum’s marginal defeat was beyond the public’s expectation and Garzito took the seat after the team returned from Windhoek.
Dubbed as the savior of Ethiopian soccer by the EFF, Garzitto announced that he was happy to be back for his second spell and that his priority would be to help the Ethiopian team to qualify for the African Nations Cup to be held in Ghana in 2008. Garzitto had led the Ethiopian junior side to its first ever world junior soccer cup in Argentina. That history led to Ethiopians believing he would do the same in Africa.
That dream however was shattered as he fell out with EFF president Ashebir Woldegiorgis and finally left Ethiopia. “I am sorry that Ethiopian football is led by the incumbent,” was Garzetto’s final word before his flight home.
Almost two months after Garzito’s dismissal and no mention of who could take over, the EFF suddenly comes out and says that Tesfaye will take over the national team. The surprising move by the federation to bring in Tesfaye for such a huge event means that it is not truly serious about qualification. Though Tesfaye’s achievement in the past three international matches’ makes him a candidate, his experience at the international level is so dismal that he will have a humungous task of leading Ethiopia against the likes of Congo.
Ethiopia now seems poised to fail the qualification campaign just like in the past 30 years and the only body responsible for the matter is the EFF. The EFF has to take things more seriously and not make decisions at the last minute because they just have to. The Dutch appointed Frank Raijkaard as national team coach for the Euro 1990 tournament. He had no previous coaching experience, but at least, he was being fully backed by Dutch soccer genius Johan Cruyff.
You can’t just appoint Tesfaye just because he was lucky enough to win three games; he doesn’t even have anyone worth consulting with to help him build a strong Ethiopian team. I say that Tesfaye was appointed as coach only because there was no other Ethiopian who was willing or qualified enough to take on the national team.