Millennium opening city circuit race in Baher-Dar

The Ethiopian Motor Association kicks off its millennium city circuit championship season in the Amhara National Regional state capital Baher-Dar, Sunday on September 30, 2007.
Following the invitation by the Amhara National Regional state Ethiopian Millennium Organization Secretariat, the association took the season’s opening event to the lake side city Baher-Dar in the mean time full filling the all-time desire to take the sport to the northern part of Ethiopia .
In the first occasion since the pre Millennium city circuit took place in Awasa capital of Southern regional and region’s national state capital, the association organized one of the recent time biggest occasions featuring not less than eighteen cars.
Dubbing the season’s city circuit occasions as the “Millennium city circuit championships”, the Ethiopian Motor Association disclosed its appreciation to the millennium organizing secretariat for taking the sport to one of Ethiopian fast rising, cities. “I am really impressed for how far the secretariat went to host the historical Millennium city circuit in Baher-Dar. In the name of the association I very much appreciate the good will of the people behind it”, said association marketing and public relation’s officer, Tsega Kumelachew in his brief statement with Capital Sport.  
In this special and first time occasion eagerly anticipated by the city’s motor sport worshippers, the motor sport greats are all to camp in Baher-Dar. City circuit most popular racer and Awasa champion Dawit Teshome, arch rivals Luca Missaluidas and Vladimiro Masselo, are out for the show down with extra energy to claim the Millennium championship title. Veterans Gula brothers, Roberto Bazani and others are to battle for supremacy against the young and up coming racers plus Mandstays the likes of Ernesto Molinari and Roberto Gabresi.
Back from inspecting the set up in Baher-Dar, Tsega told of how much in anticipation the public is for the city circuit. “With almost all sponsorship taken by the secretariat, Moenco also joined forces to help the dream occasion come true. Addis Ababa , Awasa and now Baher-Dar
the hard working  association is lucky as well to promote the sport through out Ethiopia’s major cities” Tsega remarked.

Manchester United Vs Chelsea – Maurinho today

Chelsea for the first time since three seasons travels to arch rival Manchester United to day for the season’s first round clash without much talked about manager Jose Maurinho. Following the premier league new season’s unconvincing start; three wins, a draw and a defeat, club owner billionaire Roman Abrhamovich finally said enough for the Portuguese’s stay at Stamford Bridge. Two premier league titles and one FA cup title later, Maurinho packed home under much publicity of his departure after pocketing 20 million pound sterling as compensation fee. Though the long talked about disagreement at the seasons start between Abrhamovich and Jose Maurinho appeared settled, the annoying start of the season a defeat against second rated Aston Villa followed by a home draw against Blackburn then Champions League home draw with Rosenberg inflamed the situation culminated by Maurinho’s sudden sacking.
Chelsea’s visit to Old Trafford is at the worst of times for there seems nothing in order at the Blues camp. In addition to Maurinho’s sacking the absence of star players Andrei Schevichenko, defender John Terry and midfielder Michael Ballack, Chelsea has one thing remaining and that is unity of a squad at a of misery.
On the other hand, the defending champions are at home with the all the star players in the line up. Rooney and Ronaldo back from injury and suspension respectively and the new comers starting to flourish, Alex Ferguson has every power at his disposal to slaughter Chelsea. Behold the truth that football result’s are the most unpredictable phenomenon.
Three wins, a draw and a defeat, Manchester United is fourth on the table facing Chelsea at the very right time. Add to this the moral boost of an away champion’s league victory over Sporting Lisbon on Wednesday.
Old Trafford worshippers have only one thing to fear from the visitors and that is the last act of a wild cat when cornered. Twenty years in the Old Trafford hot seat, seeing the coming and going of every English premier league club manager, Sir Alex Ferguson is not to miss the irony.
It is recalled that fortyfive year old Jose Maurinho famously told reporters he would be rather at the beachside at 65 than be on soccer fields week in and week out like Ferguson. Yes indeed, his dream wish came true rather much earlier to his liking, yet with twenty million pound sterling and all the time in the world to spend at the beach side.

Haile wins world best distance runner golden boot

All time world great athlete Haile G/ Selassie received AIMS world best distance runner of the season award from the association of International Marathon and Distance Races. Olympic gold medalist, four times world champion and eighteen world records under his belt, Haile won the award for his great achievement in marathons, and road races in the year 2006. Haile won AIMS best distance runner of 2006, collecting 237 votes from representatives of eighty member countries. “Haile is one of the best distance runners of all time”, remarked Hiroaki Chosa the association president in his message to the living legend. “I knew I won the award for year 2006 was my successful year. Including the 21KM world new record I had best times in Fucoca and Berlin”, said Haile after the award ceremony held here in the capital at Alem Building . Haile who received the honorable award from reigning world best athletics coach Dr Woldemeskel Kostre, became the second Ethiopian athlete next to Olympic gold medalist Gezahne Abera who won the award in 2000.
In the mean time, Russian world pole vaulter Yelina Esinbayeva and American 400 meter Olympic champion Sania Richards together won the 2007 golden league USD 1million jack pot. Victories in all European major cities Paris , Rome , Zurich , London , Brussels and Berlin Esinbayeva and Sania are to share between them the biggest money award in athletics sport.
The pole vault all time great Yelina cleared 4.82 metres in the closing six cities show down in Berlin . Olympic gold medalist Sania Richards clocked 49:27 seconds to win the final chapter of the 12007 golden league athletics meeting in Berlin .
Former world youth champion, Ethiopian Meselech Melkamu, came second in the Berlin 5000 meter golden league meeting clocking 14:53:09. Vivian Cheriot the new 5000 meter star from Kenya won the race in 14:50:78. Back from her sixth place bad performance in Osaka , Meselech’s second place meant the athlete is in her come-back to her old self.
 

Sport commentary

Think outside the box

So much for the Ethiopian Football Federation general assembly’s credibility Dr Asheber came out of the storm triumphant and more powerful to lead the nation’s football to the new millennium. I am not sure what to say about the future of the nation’s football for the dust is not yet settled. Had it been a situation of let bygones be bygones, it was easy to wish for a brighter day to come. Had the rigorous battle between the president and the Club’s Union ended in more civilized manner, as it happens in many other national aspects, one could suggest some fresh start before the season approaches.
However, I want to call on all those concerned to come to their senses and  act like persons of wisdom for the sake of the public who gave you the power and responsibility of running the sport at club or higher level. Don’t dare to forget that the sport belongs to the public. It is very hard to understand how it turned out to be so difficult to reconcile since all of you are telling us you are there to serve the public at large. I don’t understand how two sides both committed to same goals can fail to strike common ground such situations.
Thus, in the name of the sport’s fans, I demand you to come at least to talking terms and listen to one another to find out what better to do for the sport rather than for yoursselves. Then only is the time you are good enough to shoulder what the public bestowed on you.
One thing is very obvious for all of us and that is the nation’s soccer went down a record low than any other time. No one to blame but only the current EFF executive committee for the current situation. Yes, so many mistakes happened that sent football into a free fall. Yet, the clubs are also part and parcel of these mistakes. After all, these very clubs are the ones who appointed Dr Asheber to the presidency and what followed later is the end result of the first act. Therefore knowing that all have contributed to the downfall, all must try to find common ground to right the wrong. Pointing fingers on one another or cursing doesn’t add an iota for the good of the sport. The initial point for compromise must not be blaming one another. Digging a grave for one another is also not a solution or a good start for coming to common understanding. The issue, not the persons behind must be the point of focus. Things must not be either black or white. Please gentlemen there is another place where compromise dwells.
In the name of the public and the sport, I call on you back to the round table to give us a brighter start in the new season. Hanging Asheber or Abnet can surely give nothing positive for the sport. We want the sport to survive from the current situation in time for the new season. I am sure you all will understand the difference between compromise and defeat. Thus, the one who takes the first step is the real hero and I feel Dr Asheber, the legitimate EFF president is at the right place to do so. Save the sport is my message for both parties.    

Meseret in the fore for world best athlete accolade  

Two astonishing wins in less than forty eight hours, world athletics sensation Meseret Defar is poised to be crowned IAAF world best athletes of the season.
The third Ethiopian athlete next to all time great Haile G/Selassie and world cross country five times double champion Kenenisa Bekele, Meseret is just a race away from the IAAF 2007 world best athlete of the season accolade.
Leading top athlete of the season table since four months, the twenty three year old Meseret added more points after her record breaking golden league performance in Brussels, followed by the 5000 meter road race victory in Hyde Park London.
Slashing eleven seconds from her previous record in Carson- USA a few months back leading world best athlete of the season table, Meseret clocked 8:58:58 to win the two mile race in Brussels . Olympic and world five thousand meter champion Meseret appeared indifferent to the  second strong show down in London in less than two days and went on to win the 5000 meter road race crossing the finishing line in 15:08 to become the third Ethiopian woman next to Derartu Tulu and Berhane Adere to win the venue. Australian Benita Johnson finished second after twenty seconds while Great Britain JO Pavel settled for third place. Now it is only the IAAF athletics season’s closing event in Germany- Stuttgart Meseret is waiting to crown the first Ethiopian IAAF women athlete of the season.
In the mean time three time world 10000 meter champion Kenenisa Bekele’s dream of setting new world record failed to come true. However hard Kenenisa tried to break his own 10000 meter record held in 2005, things did not turn out to his liking although he did win the race. “Because we Ethiopians are in celebration of the new millennium, winning the race is what mattered most” said Kenenisa after the race.
Currently third in IAAF men’s world best athlete of the season table, the twenty year old Olympic gold medalist appears not to claim his third accolade for those who are up on the ladder also won in their respective disciplines.