Currently the best striker in the country, Tafesse Tesfaye stands on top of the Union Cup highest scorer list with half a dozen goals. Grabbing the most important goal of the tournament that helped his side Ethiopian Coffee lift the trophy, the fast and aggressive striker managed to score in almost every match making life horrible for the opposite side defenders. When he missed a penalty against arch rival Saint George at the cup final clash many of his fans stood behind him urging him to go get the winner. He did exactly that and made Coffee champion at the same time finishing top scorer to take the tournament’s award.

Biggest ever Ethiopian athletics
night at Alem Cinema,

A twenty five minute documentary film that tells the life story of all time world great distance runner Haile G/Selassie was inaugurated Thursday evening at Alem cinema.
The film produced by world cable network (CNN) features the saga of the legend’s life through a farm boy in Arssi to conquer king of all races that is marathon in Berlin-Germany. Crushing the for year old record Haile crowned king of marathon his oldest dream.
The story goes through the life of Haile the country side lad to current world renowned athlete with hard work and dedication that some times even imagining let alone trying it could bone tired one. With five brothers and four sisters Haile was happy to listen to every advice from his father that is strive to be like every one, a teacher or a lawyer. Yes indeed he became some body special conquering world athletics to become a house hold name setting 24 new records, two Olympic gold, four world championship titles and many others.
From a childhood mud hut in the country side to a two storey hill side dream house, a beautiful wife and businesses partner Alem Tilahun with four children, the documentary tells all the story of Haile, the greatest distance runner of all time. “Athletics is my life. I am addicted to it” remarks the living legend who also gives his opinion on the definition of helping others. “Don’t hand him a fish teach him how to.” Haile is seen in the film promoting his very noble idea of helping needy people, his friendly nature to kids and so on.
At the most fascinating evening where according to Haile the best and biggest ever Ethiopian world great athletes gathering the documentary appeared second priority for introducing those world beaters to the full house invited guests turned highly emotional one.
With the marathon legend’s Abebe Bikila’s son Yetnayet Abebe amongst them, first ever world marathon serious champion Gete Wami, Chicago marathon winner Berhane Aderre, Olympic and world marathon gold medalist Gezhanne Aberra, Sydney Olympic gold medalist Million Wolde, twice IAAF world best athlete of the season Kenenisa Bekele, world cross country champin Gelete Burka, hot favorite to crown 2007 IAAF world best athlete of the season Meseret Defar and of course the man who showed them the way to greatness living legend Haile G/Selassie were all there each receiving a flower… from world greatest athletics coach Dr W/Meskel Kostre. With the popular “stand up for the champions” music at the back ground and the crowed with an emotional standing ovation for the heroes, indeed it was an emotion filled hardly to forget night for every one present.
Following the gala party there it was a photograph exhibition opening that boasts all in all 27 rare photographs of Ethiopian athletics heroes including Ethiopian best ever steeple chaser Moscow Olympic bronze medalist Eshetu Tura, 1992 Barcelona Olympic 5000 meter bronze medalist Addis Abebe. Even a photograph was there depicting 19 years old Haile starting out at Boston junior world cross country race.  Down wards from Abebe Bikila, all Ethiopian great athletes and their respective special moments well taken and preserved in time shown at the exhibition that is open for the public at Exhibition Center for the coming seven days.
Every one at the gala evening was so filled in emotion but none ever like out going European Union ambassador to Ethiopia Tim Clark who gave away a special gift to great Haile.”
Encountering Haile my life time icon and super star for the first time in a plane bound to Addis Ababa from Brussels the best moment of my life” said Tim Clark struggling against emotion.

11 Kenyan athletes will compete in 2007 TOYOTA Great Ethiopian Run

A list of eleven elite Kenyan athletes has already been confirmed for this year’s TOYOTA Great Ethiopian Run -the largest number of elite Kenyan athletes to participate in the race.
Some of the Kenyan athletes are being invited by the organizers while others are being sent to compete here by their race agents -a sign that the race is now recognised as one of the top competitions in Africa for Ethiopian and Kenyan runners.
Among the Kenyan male athletes competing is Barnabas Sigei who won the Standard Chartered 10km Race in-Nairobi two weeks ago.
This year’s race also boasts the highest number ever of ambassador entries. At present fifteen ambassadors are registered for the competition including the ambassadors of Great Britain, France, USA, Sweden, Norway, Spain, Portugal, Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, Switzerland, European Union, Korea, Malawi and India.
The 10km road race for which registration is now closed takes place on Sunday 25th November.

commentary

Is EAF going the EFF roote?

Even though the Ethiopian Athletics federation announced the latest appointment of national athletics coaches every one knows it is simply change of faces that truly happened. None of the coaches specially the senior ones are new the job. They have been there and seen all before and I don’t know what new they are to encounter.
To my understanding the promotion as well as the demotion is the final result of the long over due deliberation of the Ethiopian national athletics squad performance in Osaka world athletics championship.
Sure every one except very few including the federation secretary felt disappointed at the final medal count that is three gold, one silver and three bronze medals. Not only being fifth in the medal table that made the public annoyed but finishing too far from arch rival Kenya that finished a surprise second in the world table and Ethiopia no where in the men’s 5000 meter show down were factors that made the issue of how & why the decline stronger.
As the saying goes better late than never EAF at long last came up with new wine in an old bag yet with no clear justification for both ways of the ladder. Why world renowned long distance head coach W/Meskel Kostre sat aside at an advisory level at the Osaka championship was never a matter that saw light. Why Captain Tolosa Kotu was chosen to head coach position for the long distance squad was never revealed for the public. Surprisingly it is W/Meskel Kostre who replaced Tolosa Kotu in the new appointment. The how and when of the matter is “eyes only” to the federation while the public left to wild speculation. Captain Zelalem promoted to marathon head coach position when Dr Yilma Berta stood down after what ever happened at Athens Olympic. Zelalem stayed on the job for some time before Dr Ylima was appointed back to the post to lead the Osaka bound marathon squad. Here we are back to square one with Zelalem the new appointee and Dr Yilma assigned to middle distance discipline and reigning IAAF best athletics coach of the season Dr W/Meskel back to long distance in place of Tolosa Kotu now assigned to youth squad. I think this vicious circle shows that it is a dead end concerning athletics coaches. I don’t think changing only faces or seats could be a solution.
The Ethiopian Athletics Federation should have disclosed what is there in the basket for the public so that every one concerned has clear picture of the situation. What is the yard stick to either promotion or demotion is the question. The reason why Tolosa assigned to the youth squad or why he pushed off from the long distance must be public knowledge. There must be some reason why the federation in the first place decided to push up W/Meskel to advisory position only to appoint him back. What is new to reappoint Zelalem to his former position must be disclosed to the public. Does the federation have the right to hire and fire to its liking? Is EAF’s executive committee functioning in proper way that calls for responsibility and accountability? In my opinion if any institution can promote and demote public servants to its liking, above all if the same people are the only who are coming and going there really is some big-big problem that need serious attention. I think this is the third reshuffle since Athens Olympic and the result in decline. Could the real problem is with in the federation itself? Is that true the current EFF executive committee members’ term long past? If so it is probable the mother of all problems is with in the federation.         

Ethiopian Coffee win Union Cup tournament, Tafesse finishes top scorer

Ethiopian Coffee turned down the 3-0 first knock out stage deficit to defeat pre tournament championship title favorite Saint George to lift the Run Away league club’s Union trophy. Shashemene Kenema finished the surprise package of the tournament clinching third place.
The three weeks tournament that brought a total of thirteen clubs, eleven run away premier league clubs and two national league clubs Mechare and Oromia Police ended with flying colors a show case for the Union how capable of organizing such big occasions. Except some schedule adjustments due to unforeseen situations the event considered sure success for the Union.
As the occasion was more of solidarity manifestation among the Union members it was formatted that in a way a side must loose twice to pack out of the tournament. That is how Ethiopian Coffee got the chance to revive to the championship title despite loosing 3-0 in its first encounter against Saints.
Excitement filled sale out crowed complete with Police marsh band the cup final took place under crackling  atmosphere the rival supporters taking each opposite wings.
The event’s opening event was the play off match between Shashemene Kenema and Oromia Police clubs. Despite both sides are little known among the nearly 30000 spectators at the stadium, the chanting and singing got in to their blood made them perform more than the expectation. An extra time goal less draw Shashemene Kenema won after a penalty shoot out scoring four while Oromia Police managed only three.
The tournament’s biggest occasion the cup final match between the capital city arch rivals Saint George and Ethiopian Coffee was tension filled among the players for flying tackles and heavy body contacts featured in abundant.
Fearing another devastating score line for the second time in a week Coffee with a defensive line up and in red alert for heavy body contact managed to win the day with 1-0 victory to claim the Union Cup. Though Saints took the upper hand at the first half Kifle Boltena’s second half strategy made the difference for Coffee’s victory. Half way through the second half, man of the match and long in search of a goal Tafesse had had a chance to give Coffee the lead but missed it from the penalty spot. He sent goalie Deyas to the opposite but shot at the wood work. Minutes later the day’s hero Tafesse galloped in to Saints box to surprise defender Degu before he found the back of the net from narrow angle. 1-0 at the final whistle Ethiopian Coffee took the Union Cup championship title. Saint George defiantly the strongest side of the tournament finished second followed by Shashemene Kenema third.
The Union chairman Abnet G/Meskel gave away money prizes for the participating clubs and the ETB 1500 money prize for the tournament’s top scorer with six goals Tafesse Tesfaye.   

EAF appoints national athletics coaches,
Dr W/Meskel heads long distance

The first ever IAAF world best athletics coach of the season Dr W/Meskel Kostre is reappointed Ethiopian national athletics long distance coach while Osaka bound long distance coach Captain Tolosa Koto takes over national youth squad head coach.
Following the Osaka world athletics championship performance evaluation that took more than three months Ethiopian athletics federation announced a new assignment of athletics coaches at all levels. Though no details from the nation’s athletics governing body how and why the new appointment took place it appears more of a house rearrangement executed in cautious manner. Many of the appointees are there for their second stint.
Dr W/Meskel Costre the world famous coach who produced number of world beaters the likes of Haile G/Selassie, Derartu Tulu and Trunesh Dibaba is back to his former position long distance head coach. W/Meskel is to head the four member athletics coaches’ staff that comprises of Prison Guards popular coach Colonel Hussein Shebo, Kassu Alemayehu,Senait Haile and Megersa Hunde.
For his second stint as marathon head coach Captain Zelalem Desta who stood down after Helsinki world athletics championship now leads a three men marathon coach’s staff that brings together former world popular athlete commander Abebe Mekonen and captain Megersa Tulu. Wedajo Buleti with assistants Melaku and Fantaye Deres took the national youth marathon squad.
The national youth squad hot seat goes to Captain Tolosa Kotu, formerly the long distance head coach. Tolosa who according to some sources a rival to W/Meskel is said not to comply with the new assignment.
Negash Habte and Zewde H/Mariam are assistants to Tolosa.
Former national popular athlete Captain Yohannes Mohammed is head coach to the 3000 meter discipline together with Girma W/Hana and Olympic medalist Captain Eshetu Tura. Arguably the first Ethiopian popular woman athlete Tsege G/Messieh assigned 100 & 4000 meter head coach with Abdulaziz Hussein and Alemayehu Gudeta her assistants. Formerly head coach to national marathon Dr Yilma Berta is in charge of 800 & 1500 meter athletes.