Haile joins world marathon giants’ exclusive club

World athletics living legend Haile G/ Selassie became the first Ethiopian next to Olympic marathon all time great Abebe Bikila and long time record holder Belayneh Densamo to set a new world record. Crushing the four years old record held by Kenyan Paul Tergat ,Haile joined the marathon giants exclusive club, setting a new world record in 2:04:26 in marathonist most favorite city on Berlin.
Though three Ethiopians won Olympic marathon gold medals, only Abebe Bikila was blessed to set new world records in two occasions. Abebe is the one and only human on the planet to win marathon gold medals in two successive Olympics (Rome in 1960 and Tokyo in 1964) clocking 2:15:17 & 2:12:12 respectively. Out of the total twenty three new world marathon records registered since 1947, Abebe made it twice.
The most remarkable athlete from Great Britain, Gim Peters, crushed marathon records four times, three in his home town London in the same athletics season 1953 with the last one in 1954. Winning in 1999 in Chicago and 2002 in London the American Kalud Kanuchi and Australian Derek Klayton 1967 in Antwerp ( Belgium ) each won new marathon records twice.
Klayton is also a record holder for longest survived world record that stayed more than a decade Ethiopian Belayneh Densamo’s new world record in Rotterdam- Holland also survived for ten years before out of the blue, Brazilian Ronaldo Da Costa crushed it in 1998. Belayneh is also the first athlete to finish under 2:07 with 2:06:50. Da Costa’s 2:06:05 new records stayed less than a year in which time Kanuchi claimed it in Chicago in 2:05:42.
Kenyan Paul Tergat snatched the one year record from Kanouchi to became the first to finish under 2:05 that is in 2003 in Berlin clocking 2:04: 55. Tergat hold the recode for four years before surrendered to friend and foe double Olympic 10000 meter gold medalist Haile Gebre Selassie. Haile at thirty four is currently at the helm of world marathon setting new record in 2:04: 26 in Berlin . Athletics world all time great, with twenty four new records in his belt appears never to get satisfied crushing records. I am sure I will do it again soon” Haile stated after his latest record.
Out of five Ethiopian world great marathoners Mamo Wolde and Gezahne Aberra in Mexico and Sydney respectively, failed to set new records while Belayneh Densamo and now Haile are only short of in the Olympics gold medals. Gezahne Aberra is the only one to win both in the Olympics and world championships. Haile has set his sights on 2008 Beijing Olympics to a his third ever Olympic goldl.

Ethiopian Athletics Federation
PR Elshaday resigns

As the African Athletics Championship approaches Ethiopian athletics public relations officer, Elshaday Negash, has resigned as of mid September for personal reasons. Many suggested his decision came at a very awkward time and that the federation needs to convince to return.
 Popular in international athletics through his Great Ethiopian Run web site Elshaday’s presence at the federation had been a breakthrough in information flow in an institution notorious for lack of information to disseminate to the Medias. In his ten months with the federation, up-dated athletics information both national and international events was at hand so the public was better informed. His knowledge, vast experience tenacity to his profession and humble character was an asset for the federation which will be hard pressed to find a substitute.
Elshaday’s resignation coinciding with the nation’s biggest athletics event that is African Athletics Championship to be held this year in Addis Ababa , the federation is to once again face the hard fact of remaining with out a capable public relation personality.
In his brief statement with “Capital Sport”, Elshaday disclosed that he had been with good working relations with Ethiopian Athletics Federations every support at his disposal. “It is a matter of priority I decided to resign. Otherwises I had had the best of times with the Federation”, Elshaday remarked.
In addition to his busy working schedule, the former athletics federation PR is engaged in achieving his academic targets. In his ten ten months with the federation, he successfully accomplished some watermarks. Preparing draft for media policy, PR manual and and creating media awareness among athletes are some of his achievements. A regular information flow plus up-dating the web-site is what excites Elshaday most in his profession.
“Of course there was some out side influence to pressure me to resign. Some came at night to threaten me. Others tried defamation and still others, to misinform others about me. I withstood all this and did my job the best way I could until I decided to resign due on to personal reasons specially, going back to school was the highest priority”, Elshaday told Capital Sport.

Milan star Kaka voted WPFA player of the season
FIFA announces thirty players’ short list  

Brazilian World soccer star Kaka has been voted as world professional footballers best player of the season by a land slide. The player is considered to single handedly steered Italian giant Ac Milan to six European championship titles, won the coveted accolade with 45000 votes, contender Argentine Bruno Messi coming a far second. The 27 year old Kaka, in his fifth season with Ac Milan, told reporters he wants to go to Arsenal or Manchester United when he decided to quit the Rossenaries. Highly rated as an exemplary professional for his in- and out of- character, Kaka finished 2007 European champions league top scorer with ten magnificent goals to his name.
In the mean time, FIFA has announced the short list for the 2007 FIFA best player award. All national teams: coaches and captains are invited to vote for the world’s best before the big celebration is due to take place in December.
Of thirty players short listed, only one is out side the three major European soccer leagues (Spain, Italy and England) with the only exceptions Juninho from the French league. At national level, Italy has the biggest number of choices-five, while England and France are each represented by four players. Brazil and Argentina each have three players.
At club level, it is Barcelona which has the seven players followed by Chelsea’s five.
Defending best players of the season Canavaro, Buffon, Nesta, Pirlo and Gatuso represented Italy on the thirty players’ short list while Henry, Thuram, Riberrie and Viera stand for France. The four from England are Gerard, Terry, Rooney, and Lampard.  This time Africa is proud to produce three soccer giants contending for the honor. Former world best player second runner up Samuel Eto of Cameroon, reigning African best player of the season Didier Drogba of Ivory Coast and BBC best African player of the season Michael Essein of Ghana are African soccer flag ships at international level.
Germany represented by former world cup final top scorer Close and the 2006 Germany world cup final first goal scorer Lahm. Portugal has two world stars Christiano Ronaldo of Manchester United and Deco from Barcelona . Twice FIFA world best player Brazilian Ronaldinho and the hottest favorite to the accolade Caca are joined by two of Argentinian stars Bruno Messi and Tavez. The lone one to represent Czech , Spain and Mexico are Chelsea ’s shot stopper Peter Cech, Liverpool striker Torres and defender Marquiez respectively.
The professional football best eleven of the season line up is 4-3-3 with Buffon between the poles, Canavaro, Nesta, Terry and Peyol at the back: Gerard, Christiano Ronaldo and Kaka in the midfield with Messi, Drogba and Ronaldinho at the for front.

Looking back at coaching blunders

Nick  Webster

One of the best parts about watching football all weekend is analyzing it with my co-workers on Monday.
What was a mystery on Friday afternoon is blatantly obvious forty-eight hours later. Coaches decisions are picked apart scrutinized and dissected because in sports, if you win, you’re a genius. Lose and you’re a ‘Muppet’ with a pink slip — just ask USWNT gaffer Greg Ryan.
Obviously, over the course of football’s history, there have been millions of bonehead decisions. Here are a few that still leave me wondering what the coaches were nipping on in the changing room.
June 14, 1970: Germany vs. England — World Cup Quarterfinal
 World Cup holders England were twenty minutes from a semifinal date with Italy . They were leading 2-0. Sir Alf Ramsey then decided to replace Bobby Charlton with Colin Bell. This tactical re-shuffle freed up Germany ‘s Franz Beckenbauer, who had been given the job of containing Charlton. Twenty minutes later and the Germans had tied the game, before eventually winning in extra-time.
June 17, 1992: Sweden vs. England — Euro ’92 Group A
Graham Taylor had famously advised the punters at home before Euro ’92 “to put your feet up and enjoy the football”. Two stupefying 0-0 draws meant that England had to beat the hosts Sweden to advance to the semifinals. After taking an early lead through David Platt, the Swedes pegged England back. With a goal desperately needed, Taylor takes off Gary Lineker, the greatest goal-scorer of his generation and a man just one goal behind Bobby Charlton in the all-time scoring list. Needless to say his replacement, Alan Smith couldn’t find the net and England were on the next plane home. Lineker, not surprisingly, never forgave Taylor, who earned the nickname of the ‘Turnip’ for his troubles.
July 12, 1998: France vs. Brazil — World Cup Final
Will we ever know what happened to Ronaldo before the 1998 World Cup Final? What we do know is that he a medical problem and originally was not included in the team list handed to FIFA prior to the final. Who decided to play him is also in doubt. Was it the Brazilian Football Federation, Nike or Mario Zagallo? Perhaps we’ll find out one day. Anyway, he had a stinker and should’ve never been on the park — just ask Edmundo, the man he replaced.
June 25, 1999: Manchester United vs. Bayern Munich — Champions League Final
Otmar Hitzfeld had devised a masterful tactical plan to nullify the many attacking threats that United posed. With a 1-0 lead and just 10 minutes left, Hitzfeld replaced his legendary sweeper Lothar Matthaus, so he could receive the ovation his career deserved. Matthaus, who had won every honor in the game bar the European Cup, looked disappointed but not completely gutted. That would happen as he sat on the bench soaking up the victory that turned into defeat in the space of three remarkable minutes. As for Hitzfeld, he’s still hoping the Nou Camp will swallow him up.
October 7, 2001 Germany vs. England — World Cup Qualifier
England’s last game at historic Wembley Stadium before it was to be reduced to rubble was against the old enemy, Germany. Qualification to World Cup 2002 was on the line. Kevin Keegan decided to play Gareth Southgate in the holding role in the center of the park. There was only one problem seemingly noticed by everyone except ‘Kev’ — Southgate had never played the role before. England lost and Keegan resigned immediately afterwards, claiming that he wasn’t tactically up for the job — ya think?    (To be continued next edition)

popular Former Coffee
player out in the cold

While many Ethiopian premier league clubs secured signings for the new season fotmer Ethiopian national side and Coffee king maker Ashenafi Girma is out in the cold despite being a free agent.
One of the most popular midfielders of his generation, Ashnafi has played for Insurance, Coffee, Saint George and Electric clubs in his ten seasons and an only player to take part of the national side that won East & Central African championship titles on three occasions.
Though with such a colorful decade, the Dire Dawa born midfielder ended as one of the most notorious player when it comes to discipline. In his two spells with Ethiopian Coffee he was so controversial a figure,
with supporters always divided about his loyalty to the club.
The appointment of young Kifle Boltena appear the point of no return to Asenafi who packed out for good only to resurface with Electric FC pocketing a rumored ETB 25,000 for his signature for one season’s contract. For Electric supporters, the move was one that angered many for the club was notorious for not paying signing bonus to home grown boys.
Ashenafi’s switch to Electric seems his second mistake since his move some years back to Saint George. Failing to perform to the club’s expectation, Ashenafi gave back what was at the time a record signature bonus to leave Saints in less than two months. This time Ashenafi had had no where to go thus stayed until his contract expiry despite only five appearances in the suspended season. Despite the few number of play makers in the country it is surprising Ashenafi has yet to find a club that needs for his midfield role. Premier league clubs seem to finally be ting get the message. Is he to hang his boots at so younger age?
In the meantime, Getu Teshome who had played with Ashenafi in Electric for a single season has joined Nyala FC for two seasons. Adopting a new policy of developimg young talents rather than signing senior players with significant signing bonus, Getu’ s move to Nyala is said to be a desperate decision for the player had been stranded on the reserve bench of Electric for most of the season. Getu appeared in less than five matches in the Electric jersey.
Once a strong defensive midfielder, Getu’s carrier started to decline following his move from Ethiopia Banks to Saint George signing a two years contract pocketing big signing bonus. For number of foreign players in the squad Saint’s head coach Serbian Mitto never took Getu serious even so the player tried his best in what little opportunities he got to don the famous Saint’s Yellow jersey. He never recovered to his old self and things got worth in his one season stay with Electric. Now joining low profiler Nyala FC Getu might get free of his frustration to bounce back to his old self that is a reliable defensive midfielder with blessed the rare quality of strength plus will power to win.