Though many sport greats are there on the shelf to run for Capital’s sport page, best sport personality of the millennium all time world great athlete Haile Gebre Selassie stands taller than any one of them for what he achieved in his thirty two years life time. Yes Yednekachew Tessema other wise known as the rock of Gibraltar is the one who single handedly lay the foundation of the nation’s sport. Yes Abebe Bikila is the first black African to win Olympic gold and still an inspiration for Ethiopian athletics greats. Yes no one has ever dominated Ethiopian football as all time Ethiopian soccer great Mengestu Worku did. Yes Derartu Tulu is the first African women to win Olympic gold. How ever Haile is the greatest among the millenniums Ethiopian sport greats.

Dr Asheber leads Ethiopian football to new millennium
The Union ready for new league fixture

Marching out of the much talked about war front, un srathed EFF president Dr Asheber W / Giorgis is to lead Ethiopian football in to the new millennium.
Following the two day Mekele EFF general national assembly resolutions, Dr Asheber consolidated his power as Ethiopian football federation president despite more than half of the premier league clubs out in the cold in opposition. The general assembly in Mekele, open only for a few select media, did not worry much about the future of the nation’s football. Even the effort to mediate the out of hand confrontation between EFF executive committee and the Clubs’ Union, so that Ethiopia receives the millennium in peace, love, tolerance and understanding were seen no where. It more or less was a report by EFF president followed by a resolution. It was a sorry situation may be the final chapter for long dead Ethiopian football.
A bit over ambitious to kneel down, the president and less than half of remaining cabinet members of the Union now remain with only a single option of submitting an apology letter to EFF or stick to its original plan of kicking-off a run away league competition. According to news resources Addis Ababa and Afar regions walked out of the assembly but to no avail for the event ended in full support of the incumbent executive committee currently with only five remaining members.
Thus, following the ultimatum that expires at the end of August only six of the sixteen sides are officially registered for the new season with the newly promoted two sides and maybe a mini tournament among four national league clubs to promote two to a total of twelve sides to a new premier league fixture. Awasa Kenema, Defense Force, Air Force, Harar Brewery, Mugher Cement & Trans Ethiopia are those that are ready for the coming new season.
On the other hand, the Clubs’ Union held a press conference on Tuesday at Sheraton Addis to declare it strongly opposes the national assembly’s resolution. In the statement that consists of five points, the Union stated its disappointment over the assembly’s resolution. “Because the assembly rejected our 12 point proposition the confrontation between the Union and EFF entered a point of no return. We are very ready
to kick-off a newly formatted league tournament armed with the best of foreign expertise to advise us. Our big sponsors are just waiting for a call. With all that the Union is committed to hold the championship matches in those cities represented by their clubs,” The Union declared at the press conference. We are sure to win strong support from the soccer loving public as well as government, added the statement.

Ethiopia win fourth place with four medals
Kenya comes out surprise package    

Two excitement-filled weeks in Japan- Osaka, the Ethiopian national athletics squad returned home in flying colors taking fourth place at the final medal count.
Brining together 2000 athletes from a record 203 nations the 11th IAAF world athletics championship in Osaka was considered one of the best ever events as forty six countries graced the medal table.
Though America took the medal table top spot as expected, neighboring Kenya’s shouldering out Russia from second spot became the events most surprising truth. With only two gold medals in Helsinki two years back, Kenya performed more than expectation while Ethiopia, the continent’s flag ship when it comes to world athletics championship achieved less in the medal count.
The ten thousand meter event both in men’s and women’s went to Ethiopia thanks to athletics greats Kenenisa Bekele and Trunesh Dibaba respectively, while 5000 meter world record holder Meseret Defar won her first world champion gold medal in her very first attempt. Seleshi Sehne is back in good form to bring home the only silver medal coming second after a most exciting performance in 10000 meters.
In the meantime, coming up with a successful recuperating program, Kenya over took even mighty Russia to third place. Kenya won five gold, three silver and five bronze to add up to thirteen medals. What an achievement in just two year’s time. This is the first time to African nation finished second in the final medal count.
America the nation to field the biggest number of athletes and collected 14 gold, 4 silver and 8 bronze to top the table with 26 medals. America ’s performance in long distances caught world eyes for it sent a message of I am here for the rest of the world.
Russia stood third snatching four gold, nine silver and three bronze total 16 medals while Ethiopia came fourth with four followed by Germany’s two gold, two silver and three bronze. Czech Republic finished sixth claiming two gold and one silver while Australia finished seventh collecting two gold medals. Jamaica, Bahamas , England and Belarus each won gold to sit on the medal table from eight to eleven respectively.
In addition to Kenya and Ethiopia, Morocco with silver, Uganda and Tunisia each with bronze made into the medal table.
Surrendering the 5000 meter medals and not yet to produce some one to look up to Kenenisa in 10000 meter, fear is already taking ground Ethiopia might not stay as a dominant athletics nation. The Beijing Olympics is near so our most respected athletics coaches must work harder than ever to produce world class athletes in both quality and quantity. Gold for the Millennium; Tirunesh, Kenenisa, Meseret.

SPORT COMMENTARY

Too few torch bearers

Following Ethiopian national athletics team world athletics championship victory at Helsinki two years back there was wide spread news that neighboring Kenyans who performed their lowest ever in the events history fastened their belt the Ethiopian way. There was also news fast spreading world renowned athletics coach Dr W/ Meskel Kostre and then his assistant Tolosa Kotu linked with foreign countries who ardently looking for their expertise. All these big talks to mark Ethiopian athletics excellence especially at distance dunning.
At the time Ethiopian national athletics squad collected the biggest ever one event medals with four gold, three silver and one bronze for a total of seven while arch rival Kenya settled for a single gold . Ethiopia took fourth place in the medal table with Kenya no where in the top ten. Whether they copied the Ethiopian way or not Kenyans came to Osaka-Japan with their homework well done and surprised every body in athletics by shouldering out giant Russia to second place, not only for Kenyans but the best ever result for African nations. Russia ’s previous record showed either top spot or runner-up position in the medal table.
Now it must be Ethiopia’s turn to upturn every stone to look for, understand and copy the Kenyan way in order to stay on course as world athletics dominating nation. The question is are we ready to do that or come forward with lame excuses or the usual tactic of blaming one another? National pride is at stake!
Considering their great performance in Osaka Kenya not only brought a strong athletics squad at individual level but also worked hard on their previously strong handicap that is in group tactic as shown in women’s 5000 meter. Had it not been for Meseret’s magnificent gold medal performance, Kenyans were out to medal sweep. In addition to producing numbers of young talents they appeared to discover what must be done to produce killer athletes the likes of Haile, Kenenisa, Trunesh and Meseret.
Except for Ethiopian athletics federation big bosses and coaches the remaining athletics loving public including veteran athletes the likes of Haile G/ Selassie voiced their worry that Ethiopia is lagging behind when it comes to pumping out torch bearers. The reply from those concerned is something to laugh about. “We are going to Osaka with best Marathon athletes ready to make history not only in world champion ship but also in Beijing” was what the Osaka bound marathon coach told us before the journey. The best we achieved in women is 21st and in the men’s 48th Some even walked out mid race.
The latest result shows currently that Ethiopia has only three world beaters Kenenisa, Trunesh, and Meseret who are to battle against dozens in Beijing in less than a year’s time. Kenenisa is alone in 10000. Trunesh is also alone for her sister Ejegayehu is in her twilight while Mestwat Tufa is yet to bloom. Meseret may be the only of the to one two have dependable lieutenants, Meselech Melkamu and Ahaza Kiros. No one is there in men’s 5000. For me neither Neither Tariku Bekele nor Ali Abdosh are gold winning athletes in the distance. For the marathon the latest information is that we are to stay cross handed until some one some how parachutes from the blue. Ethiopia’s only hope in marathon is world legend Haile G/ Selassie who so far is practicing by himself.
With all my arguments above I say Ethiopia must copy the way how Kenyans managed a surprise come back in the athletics world. It appears Kenyans have discovered how to produce young talents both in quality and quantity. Not necessarily to copy and pester but copy then adopt is what is best for Ethiopian athletics.       

Sebsebe appointed Nyala FC head coach Saint’s Mitto back to second spell

Though the incumbent Ethiopian football federation executive committee ruled them out of the new season premier league championship, clubs are busy firing and hiring players, ignoring the federation decision. As if it is true that a barking dog never bites, no one club seems to bother about the federation latest stand of banning or relegating those clubs involved in the walk out.
Defending champion Saint George with the best of local talents and about half a dozen foreign players at its disposal this time around focused on the move of new head coach. Never in love with club supporters, the Serbian coach was sacked after less than a season with the side replaced by his fellow country man Serdievich Milotto other wise known as Mitto for his second spell. The Serbian who led Saint George to two successive Ethiopian premier league championship titles had moved to South African giant Orlando Pirates following his success in African club champions’ league campaign only to stay for not more than half dozen months before his move to popular Tanzanian side Young African. He recalled from Tanzania for his second spell and is said to start duty at the end of this month. Mitto’s second spell with the side might trigger migration of some seasoned players in the likes of team skipper Mulualem Regasa and others who had not been on working terms with the Serbian. Mitto is a hero for the majority of the club supporters more for building once a great side capable of tormenting one of the continent’s strongest side Ghanaian Hearts of Oak to humiliating 4-0 defeat in Addis Ababa than his two successive home titles.
In other development bottom of the suspended Ethiopian premier league Nyala FC appointed Sebsebe Yibas for the hot seat that many revolved around last season. Popular to lead Berhanena Selam FC to premier league promotion Sebsebe had been in absence for the past two seasons following health problem before his surprise come back kicking up Agricultural Marketing to the premier league last season. Sebsebe is now replacing Wondemagne Kebede who had joined the side in mid season
This time to the surprise of many soccer critics the club announced the vacancy in which seven coaches submitted their curriculum vitee out of which Sebsebe stood first. According to news resources current national team head coach Tsegaye Desta, the latest to get sacked Wondemagne Kebede, former popular winger and Olympic side coach Tesfaye Fetene, Nyala club former assistant coach Mersha Mideksa, former head coach Captain Melaku and sacked from Ethiopia Banks in this past mid season Girma Tsegaye were the seven who run for the appointment. Leading two sides to premier league promotion especially Agricultural Marketing after nine years in lower division and not to knock club doors at the end of every season are said to be the most important factors that helped Sebsebe win the hot seat in one of the nation’s well financed football club.