At the age of sixty-five Sir Alex Ferguson appears an obsessed premier league manager his soccer passion still on the rise. It took him no time after his ninth championship title champagne uncorked to declare his priority for the coming season. He saw every one of the premier league coaches come and go in the past two decades while he enjoys the role as Old Trafford patriarch. European champion, nine premier league titles, three FA cup and many others not worthy of mentioning, Sir Alex Ferguson is the world number one club manager who can make and break any one in soccer.

Defense Forces win the national athletics championship

Although many international acclaimed athletes failed to appear contrary to what Ethiopian athletics federations ruling, the 36th Ethiopian athletics championship ended colorful and with some new national records to the book.
When the four days event ended on Sunday Defense Force athletics club crowned as over all champion of clubs while Amhara region stood on top of the regions table. Defense Force collected 441 points while Amhara Region with 325 points took top spot.
Roba Gari from Defense Force set new 3000m hurdle national record clocking 8:31:41 seven seconds faster than the previous record. The Women’s 3000-meter hurdle records also broken by Ethiopia Banks athlete Netsanet Achama. Netsanet clocked 10:11:97 crushing the previous three years old 10:29:03 record held by Mekdes Bogale. Mersit Gebre Egziabher also set a new national record in Disks, throwing 36.48 meter bettering her own previous record 36:18 meter.
Renowned international athlete Gelete Burka dominated the 1500 meter race from the start to finish in 4:10:89 followed by Meskerem Assefa who reached home three seconds later. Gelete who had not been in good health for the past months came for the show down in sheer determination and did exactly what is there in her mind. Had there been some one to challenge Gelete, may be a new record in the distance could have happened. .Aselefiech Mergia of Omedla finished third in 4:16:26 to win the bronze.
The men’s 1500-meter gold medal went to Defense Force Derese Mekonen followed by club mate Dena Daba, Abdiso Seri from Omedila coming third in 3:40:36.
One of the events evenly competed was the race among the men’s 5000meter athletes that took place on the closing day. Though the women’s 5000-meter race that took place on Saturday, minus the highly regarded international athletes, disappointed many the spectators, the men’s event changed the atmosphere for its strong challenge among the eleven athletes. Last year runner–up and the athlete discovered from the Eastern Part of the country, Harar, Ali Abdosh, took the gold medal clocking14:04:30 followed by Demesew Tsega of Saint Gorge coming home in 14:06:34. The bronze medal went to Defense Force Tilahun Manesh. On fast rise to stardom, Abdosh told reporters his mistake at the qualification stage helped him to win the final showdown for the advice from his coach to a dashing finish 120 meters from the finishing line was the key for his success.
Last year runner up Workitu Ayano of Ethiopia Banks took the gold for Saturday’s colorless women’s 5000 meters while far second came Defense Force’s Sole Utura. Workitu clocked 15:51:30, six minutes earlier than second place Utura who crossed the line in 15:57:18 followed by Aslefech Mergia of Omedla who crossed the line in 16:14:64.
The latest long distance athletics discovery Tadesse Tola dominated the men’s 10000 meters race from start to finish. Janmeda international cross-country gold medalist Tadesse took charge of the race to lead all the way to the finishing line. The final 200 meters show down against former World youth champion Gebregziabher Gebremariam ended the most spectacular of the event that the spectators rose to thunderous applaud for the winner Tadesse Tola who claimed the gold medal. Gebregziabher reached home Second place to win the silver. “I couldn’t believe that I defeated Gebregziabher,” remarked Tadesse after the race.
EFF official Captain Dube Jilo told reporters that the event was so successful that it helped for the discovery of new talents. Dube inclined any suggestion about the renowned athletes who chose to remain home despite the federations’ seriousness about the national athletics championship.
In other athletics development, the federation president W|O Bisrat Geshawtena and federation technical director Captain Dube Jilo elected member of African Athletics Confederation at the occasion held in Dakar-Senegal.This is a second term for EAF president although it is for the first time for the former athlete.

Executive committee responsible for Banks failure
Abiy called for new election

Former Ethiopian national side defender Abiy T/Haimanot denounced the incumbent Ethiopia Banks sport club executive committee for the club’s under achievement since the past four years.
Popular in his dread locked hairstyle while a player, Abiy is one of the most serving player in the club almost a decade in his belt before hanging his boot untimely.The former central defender told the weekly ABBI sport news paper that the executive committee members, past their elected terms, are blaming former players for what ever wrong happened in the club. “In order to prolong their stay in power, they always accuse former players who even are far from the sport. I am not sure why they are not to hand over once their term expired. I do not know what is behind this so-called amateur service “remarked man of peaceable character Abiy now full time employee of Banks.
In his brief statement, Abiy disclosed that the executive committee rather than assisting Banks former players to form an association, are working against it. “The Bank society is iting for a decision from the higher management of new committee election,” Abiy suggested.
In another development sources close to the club stated the executive committee is to dissolve the technical committee in grounds of not to work in hand and glove relation with the executive committee. According to the source, the executive committee’s new move triggered after the disagreement over recently sacked club head coach Girma Tesgaye. The technical committee supported Girma to stay until the end of the season and see what result would come then for the season is already late to appoint a new one. As dictatorial as it is seen clearly, the executive committee president who had signed Ashenafi Bekele’s sacking four years before stating he is real danger for the club now turned his coat to become main advocate for his return to the hot seat. Though sacking some technical person with out an agreement from the technical committee appear bizarre, the executive committee decided on its own only to bring back Ashenafi for his unsuccessful fourth spell. The executive committee’s decision to dissolve the technical committee, rumored to staunchly oppose the former coach’s return, said a pre conceived move in order to reappoint Ashenafi who had been far from the club and coaching career. Sources said they are in strong belief that Banks governor must interfere in the matter at hand and call for a new election. “I know Ethiopia Bank’s Governor has a strong support for the club. What I do not understand is why not they have close follow up the result of an investment worth of nearly three million Birr per year” said one former player who feels that the decision makers has some soft spot when it comes to Banks sport club executive committee serving term.

Sport Commentary

In the drop zone

Though it does not mean my assumption is to happen, for me Trans Ethiopia and Defense Force clubs are to rebound to mid table at the expense of others, namely Harar Brewery and Air Force. I am sure Trans and Defense Force have every potential to escape from the relegation zone while I fear whether Air Force and Harar Brewery could negotiate safe passage. However, my favorites to relegate at the end of the season are the premier league new comers Shashmene Kenema and never far from danger Nyala FC.
I don’t’ know why Nyala Fc despite having a strong financial base and support of the Tobacco company staff failed to become one of the capital’s soccer forces. Maybe it is cursed never to stay away from relegation zone even to become a mid table club. With some reservation, I think it is the club where most head coaches turn over registered next to Ethiopia Banks that appointed 15 head coaches in two decades. Nevertheless, the side seem to take an oath never to bring high profile head coaches. Even Sewnet Bishaw, two-time CECAFA cup winning head coach, considered low profiler for his success story at club level reads below sea level. Otherwise, Abraham Mebratu, Captain Melaku, and Dejene are the few recent time head coaches whose resume reads few lines in the sport. I wonder why they are not the so-called big coaches. I feel Wondemagne is between the two. Was Asrat Haile there for a short spell? Well let me add “except Asrat” to my commentary.
The side signed new players every other season yet only to stay at the nightmare zone. Nyala Fc finished bottom of the table with only nine points out of the possible forty-five points. Including two second round matches, Nyala Fc played seventeen out of which only two wins, three draws and twelve defeats recorded. Collecting only nine points out of possible fifty-one is case in point what a defensive line conceding thirty-five goals Nyala has. By the same count, scoring eleven goals meant what a shabby strike force the side has. Then what good does Nyala FC have?
From seven home matches Nyala won only two. While registering four defeats and one draw. Being the third head coach in the current season Wondemagune Kebede appears oblivious of miracles to indicate that there still is hope to survive. Has the sport club executive committee ever asked why Nyala falls in love with relegation?
Shashemene Kenema Fc I feel is a typical example of why the current Ethiopian football federation format is against the nation’s soccer development. The club promoted to the premier league more to lady- luck than its competitive capacity from every angle. Shashemene town the namesake for the soccer side is relatively a small one hardly with a standard soccer venue. Thanks to some ardent supporters and the town’s municipality one time limited financial support, the side stayed afloat through out the half season. I don’t’ think it can go on like this until the end of the season. The players are second fiddlers most of them from the locality. However, it may be hard to believe, the story goes that the club travels with rusted buses and take shelter in cheap hotels. What I really appreciate more than any thing is the player’s high spirit and battle against any side even the heavy weights. The latest battle took place here in the capital and Shashmene lost the second round first game 1-0 to Defense Force. The side now boasts only fourteen points in seventeen matches. Three wins, five draws and nine defeats out of which two are at home. It is even hard to imagine the side full of second fiddlers squad and little known coach have the resource to register some strength that may help them survive from relegation in their case may be the fate of Arbaminch and Wolaita Tusa football clubs. How can one untie an empty purse to sign players, pay good salary or appoint high profile coach?
Therefore Shashmene appears a side destined for relegation unless the federation, the local community the regional state and others join forces to the rescue.