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Reds Vs Gunners today
Liverpool Vs Arsenal play agin on Tuesday for Carling Cup

All time English Soccer greats Liverpool , for the first time in three days take on Arsenal, the country's most entertaining team today for the FA cup 3rd round. Both teams have been performing well in the FA Cup and in the European front, but both have been underperforming on the home fornt. Liverpool lie third on the table on 40 points with Arsenal close behind in fourth position on 39 points.

The clash is considered a final match as other heavyweight teams have been seeded with relatively weaker teams. Thus every one intoxicated with international soccer is set to tune in the Reds Vs Gunners clash at Anfield Road , a stadium that true soccer worshipers consider to be soccer's most sacred venue.

With Thierry Henry back from injury and back on good therms with manager Arsene Wenger, the Gunners seem to be well equiped to stop the Reds from advancing more. Though they had a hard time on Boxing Day, the Gunners thrashed Charlton 4-0 and showed that Arsenal are back to their best. However, Liverpool's 3-0 victory over fifth placed Bolton on Boxing Day is also an indication that the Reds are no easy pushover.

With young players who can run the entire length of the field in midfield, and Robin van Persie and Henry upfront, a wise combination could see Arsenal move on to the next round. Liverpool 's midfield is no less star studded. Led by captain Steven Gerrard who is aided by Xavi Alonso, Luis Garcia and Mamo Sissoko, the Liverpool midfield could anihilate the Arsenal midfield with mere power.

Liverpool will also take on Arsenal the following Tuesday for the postponed match of the Carling Cup.

Premier League leaders Manchester United host Aston Villa who heroically held Chelsea to a goal less draw on the Boxing Day's final clash on Tuesday. Martin O'Niel's side face a hard time as they try to stop a Man United that is on fire. With Christiano Rolando and Paul Scholes at their very best, Rooney always a potential danger and Ryan Giggs supplying ammunition, the Red Devils have the edge over Villa. Sunday would see the fall of at least one heavyweight.

St George damn three players

Ethiopian premier league defending champions Saint George have sold three of their players in an unexpected move. Though Saints are notorious for signing players out of nowhere and then sell them without even letting them play once, the latest offloading were seen as harsh.

The first causality of the sacking was former national team midfielder Ayder Mensur who had been a member of the Ethiopian national team that won the CECAFA title for two successive seasons. Though Ayder never featured for the Saints in the new season, many believed that he would stay with the team as a preferred substitute and even be able to collect the 50,000 birr every Saints player receives following a glorious season.

"Considering his service to the club, I expected he would be seen off in honor as is common with Saint George," remarked Solomon a die hard St George fan.

Efrem Zeru, a striker who used to play for Trans Ethiopian before joining St George for a 50,000 birr signing bonus was also given the boot along with Ayder. Once the top scorer of the premier league, Efrem was never able to win a regular place with Saint George. Sources also revealed that Trans Ethiopia had tried to re-sign the striker, but the Saints didn't give any response to the request.

Saint George's new look team is bulging with five foreign players each earning USD 500 (4350 birr) forcing them to sell Efrem. With Gebermedhin Haile back with Trans after a two year absence, Efrem is expected to join his former club for a second spell. Very few players live up to their old skills or names after leaving St George.

The other causality Ashenafi Gebreselassie's sacking is rather strange becasuse he was just signed from Wonji Sugar FC in the close season. Aschenafi still had two years to go on his contract before he was kicked out of the team last week.

Never to wear the yellow jersey, Aschenafi's sacking surprised many who had been following the development. "I wonder why the club went to so much trouble to sign him in the first place," said one spectator.

Another soccer fan said that he wasn't surprised as he still remembers the way St George treated Hilawi Antonio last season. Hilawi joined St George from Metehara just last season, was sacked at the start of last season. Hilawi, who now plays for Trans however, enjoyed sweet revenge as he scored the goal that saw Trans hold the Saints to a 1-1 draw.

Haile's career pictures on display
Super Sport 5 to host the 6th edition of TOYOTA Great Ethiopian Run this weekend

The organizers of the Great Ethiopian Run announced that an exhibition with Haile Gebreselassie's career photos taken throughout 1992 -2006 will be opened for public on Wednesday the 10th of January at the Addis Ababa National Museum .

The impressive pictures of Haile include one taken during his historic battle with Kenyan counterpart and friend Paul Tergat at the Sydney Olympic in 2000 and other victories he recorded all over the world upto his last victory in the Berlin Marathon, a month ago.

It was also reported that a 30-minute programme about the 2006 TOYOTA Great Ethiopian Run will be aired this weekend on Super Sport 5.

The Super Sport program which goes out across the African continent builds on the extensive publicity generated by this years event, the 6th in the race's history, including a separate 30-minute documentary made for BBC World which was aired last month.

In addition to coverage on Africa's premier sports satellite channel, ESPN and Star in Asia will also be showing this program over the coming weeks.

Haile, who has become a legend among Ethiopians has won Olympic gold twice and has the world championships four times. He has also managed to set 18 new records during his career that spans 13 years. The athletes still dreams of winning one more Olympic gold medal in the marathon race.

He has followed up on that dream by winning marathon races in Berlin , Holland and other countries, though the London marathon has eluded him at two previous attempts.

Haile has also won the athlete of the year award during his career and has also won six out of six IAAF Golden League races in the 10,000 meter to share the million USD jackpot with Morrocan 3000 meter athlete Hicham El Gerrouj and American sprinter Marion Jones.

Meanwhile, the 2006 TOYOTA Great Ethiopian Run 10km champion Belaynesh Fekadu won a 5km road race in Trier , Germany . This was her first victory after the big win in Addis Ababa about a month ago.

Kukusha leaves for Yemen

With more than a dozen years football experience under his belt, former Ethiopian Coffee and national team central defender Samuel 'Kukusha' Demese has joined the exodus to Yemen . Kukusha, the best Coffee defender according to many had been with Defense Forces FC for the last two seasons in which time he helped the side win the Knockout championship title. After a few months' absence from the game, the dumintive yet sharp minded defender finally decided to join the Yemen league where most of his former play mates have landed.

According to the news, Samuel has already struck a one year contract with Al-Ahly Senna', where Abraham Mebratu is also coach. Sources revealed the former Coffee defender who earned less that 2000 birr per month during his days in the Premier League is now reportedly ready to earn USD 1,000 per month, including accommodation. Samuel has now become the third player to join Al-Ahly Senna'.

Former Adama Kenema and Ethiopian Coffee striker Berhanu Kasim and former Electric and Ethiopian Coffee midfielder Ibrahim Hassen have been with the club since the start of last season.

In related news, notorious Ethiopian Coffee defender Andargachew Solomon is reportedly ready to go to Yemen for a second spell. Considered by many as the best central defender in the country, Andargachew was never able to live up to expectations with his behaviour on the pitch always working against him. Andargachew, who was part of the Ethiopian team that won the CECAFA title twice, has played for Coffee, Defense Forces and Electric. Andargachew is said to have attracted the attentions of Shebab FC.

There are three Ethiopian coaches and nearly a dozen players in Yemen . It is to be recalled that last year's Yemen league champion Alsaker's head coach is Seyoum Kebede who had been a player and coach with St Goerge in his days.

PM Meles Zenawi to receive CAF honorary award

The African Football Confederation (CAF) has selected Prime Minister Meles Zenawi as honorary awardee at the 50th Anniversary of the Confederation, according to the Ethiopian Football Federation (EFF).

The Federation said that the Executive Committee of CAF which met in Cairo , Egypt , selected Prime Minister Meles Zenawi as a special honorary awardee for his 'contribution to African football'.

Though PM Meles is not a great fan of football, CAF also announced that the PM will be honored for being the leader of the founding country of the African football.

PM Meles has said repeatedly that his number one target for Ethiopia is the development of the country. His attitude to football was measured years ago when journalists asked for his opinion about the defection of Ethiopian national team players to other countries.

"I would rather have 100 football players flee the country than one farmer defect Ethiopia ," he said.

The PM however spent some moments with the National team that won the CECAFA Senior chsllenge as he invited the whole team for an evening at the palace.

His attachment to the team also took on another dimension as the PM made a surprise unannounced visit to an honorary dinner being held at the Sheraton Addis for the National team that won the CECAFA title for the third time.

The PM is set to receive the honorary award at a special ceremony to be held at a location yet to be announced by CAF.

Berhane, Gete make strong come back

Berhane Adere is determined to become the number one pick for the marathon team for the 2008 Olympics to be held in Beijing as she was quoted as saying that she was ready to record victory after victory in the new athletics season. In the mean time Gete Wami the highly inspirational athlete whose recent victories in major international athletics meetings, also made the vow to represent Ethiopia at the Beijing Olympics.

With everything but the coveted Olympic gold medal in her closet, 34 year old Berhane is currently getting ready to kcik off the season with victories in the upcoming ten and fifteen km road races. Hot favorite to represent Ethiopia in Beijing and become the first women's Marthaton gold medalist since Fatuam Roba, Berhane has become obessed with the idea. According to many who claim to know Berhane she has all the dedication, determination, strength and experience to achieve her dream. Berhane's number one agenda for the 2007 season is to win her second 10,000 meter world championship in Osaka Japan . With that as a start, she aims to become Ethiopia 's first ever female athlete of the season.

The former world 10,000 meter world champion's last season victories include Chicago that she won in 2:20:47 in a new Ethiopian record. Berhane has been winning multiple ten, fifteen km road races and half marathon races before she got into the marathon. "I want to win in all races I participate and have the right place in the history books of athletics," said Berhane, otherwise known as the 'Gazelle'.

After two a two-year (including her maternity) absence from the game, double Olympic silver medalist Gete Wami showed the athletics world that she came back in style and means to stay much longer at the pulpit. Since spectacularly winning the Berlin marathon in 2:21:21, Gete has returned to the lime light with her eyes set on the Beijing Olympics. What makes Gete different from Berhane is that the former wants to concentrate on international road races and may be not as obsessed with the marathon as the latter. With all the experience and the will to win big events under her belt, many suggest Gete will make the 2008 Beijing Olympics Ethiopian squad. The two veteran athletes are back with determination to once again try and fulfill their dreams of winning Olympic gold.

COMMENTARY

EFF isn't helping the growth of football

I went to the Addis Ababa Stadium last Sunday to watch the Electric Vs Defense Forces match. The game was expected to be a good one between the two time Ethiopian premier league champions Electric and defending Ethiopian knockout champion Defense Force. Though I am not a regular stadium customer, the reason I went on that particular Sunday was to witness for myself the exagerated reports on how majestic Electric's performance was as they beat Ethiopian Banks 3-0.

"The English coach is a miracle worker," "The English believes in young players," "The English man is the future of Electric," were some of the stories I heard from die hard Electric fans, and I wanted to see these claims with my own two eyes.

The jinx started at the gate. I paid the entrance fee of 3 birr and while I was expecting my ticket, the attendant said the most bizzare thing, "You must call four other guys so that I can give you all a ticket worth 15 birr because we don't have a 3 birr ticket,"

When I asked why that was, the answer was simple. "The federation gave me these tickets, so there is nothing I can do," he said.

I stayed at the ticket counter for ten minutes before four others who wanted a 3 birr ticket came along and we all went in at the same time. Sadly enough, the EFF has to carry the burden of leading the nation's soccer to a better standard in such a silly way. The EFF knows how the crowd is feeling about going to the stadium these days, and creating such inconviniences might have its own implications. It either means that no one cares whether fans came to the stadium or not or people prefer to have the games under closed doors. One of these seems to be the EFF's wish.

All fans plead to be treated better than this your Excellency Dr. Asheber WoldeGorgis!!!!!!!! I doubt if he can hear me.

The EFF seems to have forgotton all about the premier league. Electric had forfeited the game against Harar Brewery, but I don't know what the EFF's executive body is waiting for to award Harar all three points? I understand that Harar is already complaining about the unnecessary delay.

In my opinion, Electric has no sound argument for not going to the Harar Brewery stadium for the match. There may have been shortages of hotels because the game was scheduled for a day when Ethiopian Christians from all over the country go through Dire Dawa on the way to pay pilgrimage to Kulubi Gabriel Church. Though in my opinion Harar Brewery should have though about providing acomodation for Electric, the latter should have been in the stadium for the match no matter what. They could have complained about the problem to the EFF after that. If the first option didn't work, Harar should have been informed before hand. Electric however failed to do all the above as Ato Araya Tesfaye, Chairman of Electric and EFF vice president, took matters into his own hands and chose to remain absent, giving Harar the mandatory 3-0 win. There may be some unknown yet convincing reasons for the problem in favor of Electric. I have no objection to it. Electric should pay the price for taking the law into their own hands.

Reds Vs Gunners today Liverpool Vs Arsenal play agin on Tuesday for Carling Cup