Ethiopian Motor Association, Powers forward
Mekele, Dire Dawa & Jimma circuits on horizon

The Ethiopian Motor Association’s first new millennium city circuit race was held in Amhara Region’s lake side capital Baher-Dar, a first ever event in Northwest Ethiopia ended as one of the best items of the Region’s millennium celebration event.
Fully sponsored by the Amhara State Millennium Celebration Secretariat, the Baher Dar city circuit event brought together 17 cars in four categories. With dangerous curves and swerves, the challenging race venue was a test for the racers while exciting the spectators who came to the city’s main square in their tens of thousands.

The 1000cc class champion chip title went to Anteneh Belachew who finished the 12 lap race with a spectacular victory lap. Bereket Elias managed to finish second.
In the event’s most exiting race, that is the 1000-1300cc, recent time most popular and Awasa city circuit reigning clinch the historic title. “I am very excited over a win as well as for a place in history chapter as the first champion of the new millennium” Dawit told reporters after the race.
Famous for his VW Beetle Luca Missalidis as usual battled his best against arch rival Dawit but could not claim the title and Luca settled for second place.
After 15 rounds of driving the youngest yet boldest racer Luca Olivero who came for the occasion from Zimbabwe, won in style. Many agreed that young Luca is quite a good a racer for his age.
So humble yet determined to claim the title, George Paulo won the over 2000cc category, sticking to the lead position once Vladmiro Maselo, reigning category champion of Awasa city circuit lost the lead in the fourth round, skidding off the track. Not only George, but also veteran Umberto Gula manipulated Vladmiros, spilt second mistake to finish second. Vladmiro settled for the third spot.
Following the inferior number of race cars that could hold another dog fight that is best of best’s race; an exhibition race took place among only six cars. However, it turned out as the days best event, bringing the crowd to wild roars. At every turn it was thundering applause from the spectators. The evening awards gala celebration was complete with the cheerful guest of honor Ato Demeke Mekonen, Amhara Region vice president and Amhara Region Millennium Celebration Secretariat president, at the color full event every one present in excitement. Ato Demeke, addressing the crowd after handing out trophies to the winners and certificates for all participants, said the Ethiopian Motor Association city circuit will be an annual event in the lake side city of Baher-Dar.
Taking everyone at the party by surprise, crowd favorite Dawit gave back his winner’s trophy in dedication to Baher-Dar Millennium Celebration Secretariat and the Cash prize to the in needy of help. Receiving the trophy, Ato Demeke announced Dawit’s dedication would have a special place as a millennium trophy.
Now gracing Northern Ethiopia capitals such as Baher Dar, thanks to the big help from the region’s millennium celebration secretariat office, other major regional capitals Mekele, Dire Dawa and Jimma appear to be in the pipeline of the motor association annual events. Footing more than 90 percent of the event’s sponsorship bill, Baher-Dar made a its dream come true. 

 Coffee star players sign new deals

Ethiopian Coffee managed to retain three of the club’s best players despite wide claims that head coach Kifle Boltena’s new policy is closed to senior players. When Kifle announced he is serious about young talent and no more to spend thousands on signing fees, those who ended their contract were busy looking for a new club capable of paying good money. In the meantime many supporters who are worried about the development were suggesting that losing the players might trigger a down fall hard to rebound from.
However, the issue of keeping those senior players is now settled for Coffee has renewed their contracts for the next two seasons with out disclosing figures of the deal. Sources close to the club expose that Coffee splashed about ETB 100000 to win their signatures.
According to sources, currently nation’s best striker Tafesse Tesfaye who was almost to strike a deal for his old club Electric with a record signing fee, collected forty thousand ETB while team skipper and midfield ace Edilu Dereje and defender Wosenu Maze pocketed ETB thirty thousand each. “Coffee without Tafesse is unthinkable”, said one supporter relieved from that huge worry of losing a striker who was defending top scorer of the premier league and leading scorer when the league was suspended.
Electric, with a vigorous campaign to sign back its former players rumored to ….a lucrative new two years deal to the striker to join his former team mate Tamerat Abebe who moved to Electric in the winter transfer for his second spell. The national team full back Tamerat returned to his home club after two successful seasons with the premier league champion Saint George. Many expected the two former team mates playing together to once again lead Electric FC to former triple champion glory days.
The existence of Coffee’s midfield power house Edilu Dereje was also in question mark following Kifle’s remark on spending too much on signing bonus. Many club’s had been lining up to sign Edilu with substantial bonus had it not been to Coffee’s coming back to sense. Both Edilu and Wosenu would have joined Electric FC. Renewing those players contract is behind the club kicked off its pre season preparation in high morale.
 

Haile’s new millennium new world marathon record

Crushing the five years old world marathon record in Germany- Berlin, world all time great distance runner Haile G/Selassie said he is working hard to finish the 42km distance in 2:03 in Berlin next year.Tirty four year old living legend Haile not only defended his championship title in Berlin but also shattered the previous record held by friend and foe Kenyan Paul Tergat. Slashing 29 seconds off Tergat’s record, Haile disproved those who wished him he better hang up his spikes while he still was on top of the world.
The phenomenon, Olympic double gold medalist, quadruple world champion and 24 world new records at his belt, Haile ,a man of his word is now number one choice to bring back home the Olympic marathon title in Beijing.
Being one of the world’s biggest marathon venues, Berlin brought 40215 athletes from 115 nations thus it was a challenging event for any one who is some one in world marathon taking part in the event. Haile, defending champion and five pace makers at his disposal was the hottest favorite while Kenyans and Moroccan fiercest challengers. However, as of the first 10 KM it was clear Haile to race not athletes but against time. Twelve KM from the finish line even the last pace maker was out from the scene leaving the legend by himself. Determined to give fellow country folks the best gift for the new millennium, Haile stepped up his pace and made his graceful entrance into the
stadium amidst applause in new world marathon record time 2:04:26. “I am grateful for Germany for its perfect weather and the strong support they gave me,” Haile told reporters after his astonishing victory.
Not only Haile but also one of Ethiopian’s all time greats Gete Wami, the defending champion of Berlin women’s marathon was busy writing athletics history, retaining her title for the second successive year. Already considered the future of Ethiopian women marathoners for the Beijing Olympics, Gete was alone for the most part of the race for she ran away from the pack early. It took Gete 2:21:00 to take the top spot in the race for the world marathon majors serious jack pot of USD 500,000. In five weeks, Gete takes part in New York marathon big show-down as hottest favorite to take home the jack pot. “I felt I am to win the event for I was in my best form,” Gete remarked with a huge

What lies ahead for Ethiopian football?

With the future of Ethiopian football still undecided, most premier league clubs have already kicked off their pre season preparations. So far there are no indication that the two antagonists, Ethiopian Football Federation (EFF) and League Club Union (LCU) coming to mutual agreement on how to run the nation’s football. The federation said it is ready to kick off with what sides remaining and namely Defense Forces, Air Force, Trans- Ethiopia, Harar Brewery, Awasa Kenema plus the two clubs promoted to the top flight last season Agricultural Marketing and Southern Police. Four other sides might join the league if selected after a mini tournament among the national league clubs. EFF called for registration for the new premier league season where only six clubs are said to be in line.
On the other hand, the runaway LUC, led by one of Ethiopia’S leading investors and Saint George’s board chairman Abnet Gebre Mekel aand former high government official and Ethiopian coffee club, founder Lieutenant Fekade Mamo are said to introduce a new league competition format, bringing together ten of the runaway clubs Saint George’s, Ethiopian Coffee, Electric, Ethiopia Banks, Insurance, Nyala, Adama Kenema, Shashemene Kenema and Methara Sugar. Already decided on Ababa Bikila stadium to be the common venue for the capital’s clubs, the announced a pre season one round tournament to kick off soon in Methara, already with a 20mln ETB sponsorship deal in the works.
The confrontation now appears to be out hands for some of government officials who took the initiative to mediate the two factions. Once the national general assembly passed a resolution in favor of incumbent EFF president Dr Asheber WeldeGiorgis, the question of legitimacy over who to govern the nation’s football seem to be settled.
Though romors started flying that the mediators are still at large to look for a way to break the dead. lock, the public remains in the dark, busy in wild speculation. Some say since only Saint George’s and Ethiopian Coffee are the only sides not owned by state enterprises, they would be back in the premier league, while others suggested a Kenyan type league season’s is feasible as long as it sticks to CAF’s standard procedures.
The Ethiopian premier league season due to kick-off the final week of October an either the mediators or the opposing sides, are expected to come up with some sort of solution to help save the nation from a football empty season for the first time in half a century.
The nation’s football loving public wants to see all sides to come to some settlement and better focus they full time to rather help revive the sport. “I wonder what type of football we may come to watch if either of the one has their way”, remarked a long time Addis Ababa stadium client. “I am not sure what kind of curse is buried under the stadium that changes any one coming near the sport in to a devil” said another who wished it were possible to sell the stadium to Haile Gebre Selassie and see what he would do with it.

Germany win world soccer title: again

Women’s world cup defending champion Germany became the first nation to retain the championship title.
Two weeks in host nation China’s booming cities, the 5th world cup final among 16 nations was considered the best ever women world cup tournament the very best two reaching for the cup final show down.
Though three women’s soccer heavy weights, U.S., Germany and Brazil were pre tournament title hot favorites, the one time former champion Denmark, hosts China and N. Korea were also in the title fight until the semi final stage.
Not only retaining the title for the first time Germany was simply the best with hardly any weak links. The squad, led by team skipper Prinze ended as all time great football side setting a new world record of conceding no goals through out the tournament.
Crushing America out of the semi final stage with a 4-0 score line Brazil appeared a real mighty stance even to flawless defense Germany . True to the prediction, Brazil dominated the match, creating a number of goal chances but for the heroic performance of Germany’s goalie Nadin Angerer. Shift of balance occurred when reigning world best women player, Brazil’s star Martha missed a spot kick. Martha did her best but Angerer denied her effort. Then after it was Germany all over who scored twice, the opener through no one but Prinze to take the coveted title for the second time. “Once Nadin saved the spot kick, I felt sure that the title would be ours.” said German coach George Barcelos after the final.
Martha and Prinze, both in contention for FIFA world women player of the season award, performed well above the cut either assisting or scoring goals in every match. Scoring the opening cup final goal and leading Germany to championship title, ace player Prinze is the hot favorite to get the award in the coming FIFA best player of the season awards ceremony.
In the meantime two time world champion the USA defeated former champions Norway to claim the runner up spot. Though with flaring tactical superiority, America failed to stop more of physical Brazil in the 4-0 defeat at the semi final stage. “ The best four sides reached the semi final and the very best two make it in to the final and perfect Germany won the coveted trophy”, said the commentator, mesmerized by the Shangai, Hong-Ku stadium women’s world soccer cup final.