Tirunesh, Kenenisa and Meseret closed the old millenniums sport history chapter with golden writing that will surly pass down to the coming generation. Great athletes their keep their word that are great. Here they are with hard earned gold for a nation ready to receive a new millennium full of brighter wishes. Gold makes it even brighter.

New season Europen Champions League United faces Roma in group stage

The 2007-2008 European champions league new season fixture brought England champion Manchester United to a head on clash against Italian Cup winners As Roma. Recalling the 7-1 slaughtering of Roma at Old Trafford last season, the rematch became the highlight of the first group stage.
Last season runner up England Liverpool is drawn in group one together with FC Porto, Olympique Marseille of France and Besiktas of Turkey. Five time European champion Liverpool is hot favorite to top the group with Porto the likely runner up.
In group two it appears easy to predict the best two to go to the next stage. Last season semi finalist Chelsea, in a do or die quest for the European title this season, is drawn amongst Valencia , Schalke and Rosenberg of Norway. Valencia may challenge Chelsea for the group top spot.
Spanish champion Real Madrid is the giant of group three that consists of Lazio, Werder Bremen and Olympiakos of Greece. The nine times champion Real Madrid seem to win the group with no big challenge but the runner up spot is out for grabbs for any one of the three. Werder Bremen looks like a side with a slight edge to follow Madrid .
Defending champion AC Milan is the ideal one to dominate group four that brings together Benfica of Portugal, Celtic of Scotland and Shakhtar Donetsk from Ukraine . Since Ukraine sides' recent history shows it never made it in to knock out stage the runner up contest will be between Celtic and Benfica.
Though the clash between Manchester United and AS Roma is the apple of the eye match group five appear a tricky one even the big ones may face real challenge from both Sporting Lisbon and Ukraine champions Dynamo Kiev.
Group seven appear the death group for all the members are strong sides with no one to pop out as clear favorite. Of course Inter Milan is the giant to likely dominate the group. However, Inter's recent time champions' league record is a mine field hardly safe for a leisurely walk. Dutch soccer flag ship PSV Eindhoven, Turkish champion Fenerbache and CSKA Moscow all are die-hards not only to battle for runner-up spot but also for the group winner.
Sending out the one man strike army Thierry Henry to Barcelona former champions league runner-up's Arsenal is favorite to win the group even with those little kids so far doing good in the new premier league season. Spanish side Seville is the likely one to claim second place although Czech side Slavia Pague might
Rattle the nest. Steawa Buchrest of Romania is the under dog no one to take it seriously.

Meseret brings gold à la Tirunesh

Ethiopian athlete Meseret Defar has come first wining gold, leading three Kenyan athletes in the 5000 meter race at the 11th World Athletics Championships in Osaka, Japan. Mesert showed extraordinary talent and strength to come first among the Kenyan athletes who got second, third and fourth positions. Mesert celebrated the victory on September 1, 2007 at Nagai stadium as we went to press.
The youngest ever world champion, Tirunesh, Dibaba opened the flood gate for the gold rush for Ethiopian in Oska. Twenty three year old Tirunesh was struggling mid race before reviving to her astonishing victory to defend her 10000 meter title. “If it was not a national duty I would have walked out following that serious ache”, Tirunesh told dumb founded reporters after the race. Though fresh for such world events, Mestewat Tufa played the decisive role of keeping the pack to await the queen. Tirunesh joined the pack, over took them turn by turn and came shoulder to shoulder with rival Ethiopian-Turkish Abei Legesse. Then that astonishingly blistering pace went on to finish the race in 31:55:41. “This is history. She made this big world event like a practice session. She stayed behind too long then said, “That is enough girls I am coming.” She came and did what is easiest for her that is defending her title” said a breathless commentator in his admiration for Tirunesh.

National tennis squad returns with swelling victory

The Ethiopian Youth national tennis team returned home with flying colors claiming 18 medals, the biggest ever in the sport's history.
Organized by International Tennis Federation in collaboration with African Tennis Federation, the ten days East African national Youth zonal championship took place in Kenya- Nairobi from 13 to 23 August, 2007 bringing together eight nations represented by more than a hundred participants.
According to the press release sent to Capital, Yonas Gebre the jewel in the crown of Ethiopian squad brought home four medals, two gold in pair competition and two silvers in two single events. Yonas pairing with Matyos Amsalu, performed well above expectation that a standing evotion followed their astounding victory.
While the men's event was considered the tougher showdown, the women's event was relatively an easier undertaking from which the home side claimed victory in both single and double events. Semira Michael claimed gold medal in the women's single event followed by two gold medals in the double events. Semira's pair Meron Getu, one of the best performers on the occasion won two silver medals while Dinkenesh Tamere added another two bronze medals in single events. Though the sport is not the most popular past time in Ethiopia and facilities are few, the young seem to fall in love with it thanks for very few but brave hearted sponsors and individuals. The Orbis- Mitsubishi sponsored Hilton organized annual tourney, Bole and surrounding kebele competitions and Addis Ababa Tennis Federation tournaments are among the few that keep the sport alive and produce youngsters to complete at international level.

EFF secretary Ashenafi submits resignation

Sailing through turbulent sea makes one an excellent captain where as perfect prediction time and time again from where the next wind is to blow meant an expertise. That is what EFF general secretary Ashenafi Ejigu, a man smart enough to surprise the sport loving public for the second time.
According to the news source “Reporter Sport page” Masters in sport from East Europe, Ashenafi Ejigu, notorious for being the right hand man for EFF president Dr Asheber W/Giorgis surprised every one submitting a resignation letter just at the eleventh hour. Three days before the general national assembly takes place in Mekele capital of Tigray, Ashenafi demanded resignation on Tuesday on grounds of repeated accusation to blindly obey what ever his boss says.
Those who recalls the situation under Youth & Sport deputy minister Melaku Petros, remarked that Ashenafi switched sides to the then Dr Asheber led faction the ultimate champion of Ethiopian football until recently. Accused of passing documents Ashenafi had been kicked out of his job only to reappointed Secretary General under Dr Asheber’s presidency. “He is as smart as a fish to slip out of danger” they remarked.
As sudden as the wind from the East Ashenafi, to some, masters in survival once again gambled on the wind direction before things go out of hand. According to some critics the move may help the secretary general to grab pole position to once again rebound as key person in the federation. “He knows the in and out of Ethiopian football federation thus he hopes to serve there to whom ever coming to power” added the critics.
Ashenafi, the latest to resign from the incumbent EFF executive committee pushed up the number of persons left position. Currently only five executive members Dr Asheber, Ato Wordofa Bekele, Ato Araya Tesfaye, assistant professor Sisay Zeleke and Ato Getachew G/Mariam are the only remaining members who might face the national assembly. Being in USA for an extended vacation following his invitation as guest of Ethiopian sport federation in North America, instructor Kassahun Teka, the federation technical head and Dr Ashebers strong ally is hardly reach the assembly. Thus only five out of eleven are in action yet hardly a majority to call the general assembly.

commentary

Call for unity

This is the best of times to come to a compromise and stay together for the common good. As the nation is on the eve of celebrating an only Ethiopian millennium celebration, the prayer is for love, peace, unity, forgiveness and above all, understanding. Thus the nation awaits the Ethiopian football national general assembly from this perspective. That is, to come to terms and tell us things are in peace.
Soccer fans want nothing but a better future for the sport. The national assembly must work wisely on how to reach to this common goal. You should all agree on the basic concept that is about electing men who are capable of leading Ethiopian football to a better future and not to power that could enable them to shake us all like dices to their liking. Those willing to listen to others, those enlightened to understand others, blessed with wisdom of compromise and have a vision and passion for sport are who the nation expects to come out from the assembly. Then and only then can resurrection to Ethiopian football come true. The nation's soccer is in its worst ever situation God help you to come up with a miraculous solution for the chronic problem.
To my understanding , the EFF executive committee as well as the Clubs' union members are somewhat hot headed and in stubborn attitude, more as sworn enemies rather than a side a with different opinion. They are not to appear to the assembly with an only motto of vanquishing one another. I don't think the stage is for confrontation rather it is for resolution and to right the wrong done to which ever party.
Sure the sport suffered the worst under the current EFF president Dr Asheber G/Giorgis and the question as to why and how it all happened must get answers. Those who are accountable should come forward with due reasons and what ever they have to defend their stand. On the other hand, the Club's union, this time a strong opposition not yet acknowledged as a legal body must not act stubborn and try to dictate its own way as if it is the only medicine in the market. Who are the Union members to say forget arbitration and dispute resolution? Is it not true that most of the members are sinners in their respective clubs, some in wanted lists for 'hanging'? Aren't some of them battling to stick to the committee membership even after ten years in power in their respective clubs? I pronounce there is no one there in the assembly who is without blemish.
The general assembly, the highest office of the nation's football, is the one to decide how to proceed for a better future for the sport. Everyone says it is up to the general assembly that the final say rests. If so, it means that the nation's football fate is in the hands of these people now in the position to listen carefully and decide wisely what is better for the sport. Forget not that of many the sport's fans speculate you already have joined this or the other side, not from a matter of principle but because of vested interests. Well, it is okay for the public to speculate as far as you all know how to execute your duty and responsibility bestowed to you by the public at large. The rest is a matter of personality. The public awaits the whole proceeding, praying the Almighty to lead you on the path to the truth.