Manchester United’s legendary midfielder Roy Keane is back in the English premier league just after a single season in the woods. Of course this time not as the famous no nonsense defensive midfielder. He is back to the top flight on a white horse leading Sunderland FC to a return to the premier league as champion of the national league. When Roy Keane was appointed to Sunderland’s hot seat, the side was down on he table with no win in seven matches. Keane’s first ever coaching job shot up in no time that the side simply went on a winning spree and climaxed as champion of the league season. He is now to face his old mentor Sir Alex Ferguson as an equal. Does that mean United’s future coach is already in town?

European soccer season’s biggest clash on ednesday
Liverpool Vs Ac Milan

Except the Greek capital Athens and few players who joined their respective squad as of last two seasons, it is the carbon copy of 2005 European Champions league cup final.
The six times European Champion Italian giant AC Milan clashes England’s heavy weight Liverpool to the 2007 champion’s league crown on Wednesday.
Liverpool travels to Athens stadium with capacity crowed of 63000, having in mind two major agendas the one to bring home a silver ware for the season. No league title, no FA or Carling cup, the Reds have one and one chance that is coming back from Athens with Champions league trophy. The second agenda is to rub shoulders with Ac Milan sharing the six-time Championship record that is only second to nine time Champions Real Madrid. Of course, breaking hearts of Carlo Ancelotti and company for the second time is what is not written but in every players mind.
For Ac Milan it is in one sentence “Revenge is Sweet when taken cold” direct from the famous fiction “God Father by Mario Puzo”. How can one forget those six minutes dubbed by commentators “the mad moment” when those three goals showered down out of nowhere? Liverpool made the greatest ever come back in the championships league history coming from three goals dawn to level in six minutes then went on to win the trophy for the fifth time after penalty shoot out.
Currently the best metropolitan club manager in the world Rafael Benitez has a strong squad compared with that of the squad he has two years back. Solid defense line Sami Finen,Risse, Agger and Carragher in defense, central command from inspirational Steven Gerard, Alonso, Masharano and Orelio in midfield the Red’s handicap is the front line. Durk Kuyt and Peter Crouch may embark on dangerous territory where Italians do best that is defense. Add to this squad the brilliancy of Rafael Benitez, the probability of second celebration in three seasons seems Realistic..
AC Milan the side that turned all odds against both Bayer Munich and Manchester United appears ready for the battle fit and sound. Manager Carlo Anchelotti heard Ferguson’s advice that if he failed this time, he will never make it. His tactical approach against both Bayer and United surprised the soccer world he is now shoulder to shoulder with world-renowned managers. How ever, Benitez’s European specialty is there to think about. Forget out from goalkeeper Dida for the defense line is where infested with anti strikers mines. It is hard to pass through the combined efforts of Alesandro Nesta and team skipper Maldini junior. They both are as tough as nail in both air and ground. They also are hound dogs still remembering how the Reds deceived them two years back However old aged defenders they are, experience taught them how to handle invaders coming to danger territory.
In midfield AC Milan, seem to have the better say for the gladiator Genaro Gattuso, rejuvenated Clearance Seedorf and play maker Pirlo are in good shape and in hunger for big victory. The best mid field combination some times with a helping hand to Milan’s week link the strike force that is brilliant Kaka and Inzaghi. Leading scorer of the tournament with 10 goals, Kaka is the most deadly person in the field as Manchester United discovered it recently. The handsome killer is famous for not forgetting past experiences as well as rising to an occasion despite suffocating pressure.
Wednesday night is when the big clash takes place and the soccer world expects the soccer world expected to glue eyes on any thing that is live transmitting.

Ethiopian coaches in Yemen League
Sewnet, Seyoum, Abraham

Double CECAFA senior soccer champion Sewnet Bishaw’s first season in Yemen soccer league appears a good start for his current position in 14 club’s league table shows bright future to come.
According to weekly sport news, “world sport” at the end of the league’s first round campaign Sewnet’s side Ahly Senaa stands fourth on the table five points behind the league leaders. Having three Ethiopian players in his squad the former Ethiopian national side head coach managed to set a new league record finishing the first round with out a defeat. Four wins and nine draws, Sewnet’s side Ahly Senaa is 4th in the table with twenty-one points. “Considering he is just in his first season in the league, Sewnet would surely become a strong title contender in the second round “remarked a player who had been in Yemen league for two seasons. Though Sewnet is, fourth on the league table he managed to achieve better than the other two Ethiopian coaches Seyoum Kebede and Abraham Mebratu.
In his second season in the league, defending champion Seyoum Kebede is now struggling to rebound to top spot though he is currently fifth on the table one point behind fourth place Sewnet Bishaw. Defending Champion Al Sakaar finished the first round collecting twenty points from possible thirty-nine. Even with former Ethiopian National Team popular striker Yordnos Abay at the front line, retaining title appear a tougher job for Seyoum than first time. Five wins ,five draws and five defeats in the first round campaign Al Sakaar is now two wins behind the league leaders who has twenty six points. Having a second round home matches against the league leaders Seyoum has a chance to make it again for the second successive season.
Though he is in his second season the former national side assistant coach Abraham Mebratu appeared with a bit difficulty to stay on course like his compatriots Sewnet and Seyoum. A charmer, than a coach who saw every thing in the business, Abraham needs hard work to make it in to the title contender’s camp. Four wins, four draws and five defeats Abraham is now ninth on the table with sixteen points. More than a dozen players in the Yemen league many Ethiopian soccer fans have serious follow up of the three head coaches’ performance. It is recalled that Seyoum’s last season title victory hailed at home.

Millions in Prizes for world Athletics Championship
Mekdes & Nestanet destined for Osaka

World third biggest sport occasion World Athletics Championship 11th edition in Osaka-Japan brings together 204 IAAF member nations, the highest in the sport’s history. According to International Athletics Associations Federation (IAAF) latest announcement, of the 214 members nations 204 registered to the championship represented by more than 2000 athletes.
Since world great athletes are to grace the host city Osaka, Iaaf allotted the biggest ever prize money that is USD seven million plus. IAAF proudly announced the biggest prize money is to find its way to the athletes’ pockets. With the highest 60 thousand USD for the winner, the prize go down up to USD 4000 to the eight place finisher. For the medal winners in short, middle and long distance events USD 60000 for gold, 30000 for silver and 20000 for bronze is set. For any one to crush records another USD 100,000 is in the waiting.
The Marathon athletes are in their own category of prize money that is USD 20,000 for gold 15000 for silver and up to four thousand for sixth place. The USD 100,000 for new record is still stands for marathon. In the Relay event that is group contest, USD 80,000 set for the winners with the runner-ups to pocket USD 40,000 and second runner ups to collect 30,000 USD. The prize goes down up to USD 4000.
In related news, Mekdes Bekele and Netsanet Achamo booked their place in the Osaka world athletics show down in a relatively new discipline in Ethiopian athletics history book. Mekeds and Netsanet finished third and fourth respectively in the Doha- Quatar Grand Pree athletics meeting. The recently held 36th national athletics championship gold medalist Mekeds clocked 9:37:64 to claim bronze medal followed by Netsanet Achamo to fourth place in 9:42:42 fulfilling IAAF minima for world athletics championship.
The duo’s fly the tri-color in the 11th IAAF world Athletics Championship in Osaka –Japan.

Barcelona lose top spot to Real Madrid
Van Nistlroy named top scorer

Barcelona’s third successive Spanish league title dream appears to vanish into thin air following the rise of archenemy Real Madrid to top spot of the table. The 4-3 dramatic come back home victory after two goals down against visitors Espanol on the weak end, the nine times European Champions muscled into number one spot for the first time this season.
Two La Liga titles and a European champion’s league crown later, Frank Rijkaard’s squad ended as heavily battered commando unit tired, frustrated and in red alert to flee away to a fresh start. Two times world best player pf the season Ronaldinho seem to get tired of football under Rijkaard that he is absent from training fields in regular basis. No one denies Brazilian midfield ace is bone tired for he has so few vacations in the past three seasons. Add to this Ac Milan’s USD150 million transfer package deal, why Ronaldinho to stay with Barcelona rather than a move to Italian football to become the latest Sansiro god?
One of world’s best targets man Samuel Eto is also on the move since months back. Back from injury, Eto’o denounces Rijkaard number of times with the club president behind to add fuel. Chelsea, Manchester United and Inter Milan lining up to his signature what is there remaining for the Cameroonian except a move to a new territory and try his luck. With the orchestra leader and the finisher’s hearts somewhere else, Barcelona’s struggle for third title against determined Real Madrid becomes futile. Real Madrid are rising from successive seasons humiliation now vowing never to see back. Two matches remaining it seem practical. The easy way-out for the defending champions seem to throw in the towel for Real Madrid and run away.
Real Madrid’s performance in front of 90,000 home crowed against Espanol was to show how determined the squad is to get back to the epitome. Trailing 3-1 at the break should have been heart breaking. How ever spear headed by Dutch striker Rudd Van Nestleroy the latest leading scorer with 21goals, Madrid went on to an all out attack to level at 3-3 then grabbed the winning goal three minutes into the final whistle through Hegwen . Both Van Nestlroy and Real Madrid are now leading the La Liga confident.
The 1-1 home draw with Real Betis, Barcelona with bleak future is second on the table having equal points with Real Madrid. Seville defeated Recreativo to 2-1 score line to sit third in the table. After 2-0 home win over Zaragoza, Valencia is third collecting 62 points followed by zaragoza to fourth place with 55 points.
Spanish La Liga happened the highly competitive league season the final to be decided at the very last day. United claimed the title two matches to go and Inter Milan seven matches in hand.

commentary

Ethiopia Banks’ saga in numbers

Watching the latest development up close and reading the past two articles you wrote about Ethiopia Banks football club I decided to shine some truth for the failing of the club in simpler way that could be understood by who ever is engaged in business. I choose numbers believing that every one agrees numbers do not lie.
Four matches into the Ethiopian Premier League second round, Ethiopia Banks foot ball club appeared a club out of steam registering only two points in four home matches. The club’s president Ato Abebe according to rumors, claimed to play the main role to reappoint five years far from the club Ashenafi Bekele, is now in an awkward position to defend his role in sacking Girma Tsegaye in mid season.
Though Ato Abebe blamed former players for the failure of Ashenafi’s four home match results that is the lowest ever, the frightening truth is that the club might go further down if some remedial measure is not taken. Ashenafi is not yet to win a game and imagine, all are home games. I fear the worst is yet to come. Let us see what statistics could tell as and forget not statistics is what Banks excel as financial institutions.
Girma lost four matches out of 15 first round fixtures two each at home and away. Yet Ashenafi’s just four matches show he already lost twice at home meaning half of Girma’s loss yet it is in 15 matches. Girma twice went drew out of five home matches where as Ahenafi already has two draws out of four home matches. Girma managed even an away win while Ashenafi still is on the look out for a single home win.
Girma Tsegaye the head coach, favorite among the club’s players yet damned for failure, collected 1.13 points per game where as the president’ favorite Ashenafi Bekele achieved only .5 points per game. Add to it that Ashenafi’s are all home matches, the statistics shows in mid season neither the sacking of Tsegaye nor the reappointment of Ashenafi was a sound decision expected from executive committee who stayed in power for more than half a dozen years. When the decision is from men who happened to be in the business of finance (Profit/Loss) it calls for some one from the highest to check why the wrong decision is at the cost of the institution.
In my opinion, Ashenafi is giving 100 percent of what he has. The problem is that he has nothing to give. Thus, the mistake lies with the executive committee for deciding in favor of one whose capacity as head coach is hardly to turn around the fate of one of Ethiopia’s prominent football clubs.
I have a message for the executive committee. As an amateur, you have served your share as loyal Bank’s staff. Resign in time and let others come and serve their’s. The last act of a decent and genuine official is to resign when things got out of hand. To resign is the final honorable gesture of a responsible person when the going gets tough and the tough fail to get going.