Premier league players suspended for two years
Mesoud Mohammed, Yonas G. Michael and Cameroonian Benowit have been suspended from Ethiopian football for two years. This is the first time the federation has passed such a strong decision on players who signed for two sides in one season.
The former Electric FC and Ethiopian national team popular defender, Yonas, who last played for Ethiopian Coffee, signed to Methara Sugar FC for two years, snagging a 25,000 birr bonus, only to change his mind and put his signature to national division Dedebit Club before the season started.
Yonas’ assumption in signing for two sides at the same time was that one of the two, notably Methara, will excuse him taking into consideration his popularity and his contribution to the national team. However, since the two sides stood their ground, the case reached the federation, causing the historical two-year suspension.
The same goes for rising midfield star Mesoud Mohammed who signed to Ethiopian Coffee pocketing a 30,000 birr signing bonus. When his former club, Electric, convinced him to stay for 40,000 birr made the crossover again. Thus, Mesoud, a very promising midfielder, is to waste two valuable seasons watching soccer from the sideline as stipulated by federation law.
When Cameroonian Musgini Benowit left Bahir Dar University football club at the end of last season, no one expected him to be stranded even before the start of the new season. Benowit signed to Methara Sugar FC in a two year contract only to later put his signature to Ethiopian Coffee. It is rumored he will be pocketing a five figure amount with Methara FC.
Despite the players’ willingness to return the bonus amounts to the respective sides and EFF’s effort to strike an agreement among the sides, all three players are suspended for two years.
“It is a good decision as it teaches others that they should abide by the rules,” a long time football fan commented.
Tsegaye Kebede to rub shoulders with world athletics greats
After an astonishing finishing run, Beijing Olympic bronze medalist Tsegaye Kebede has won the 62nd edition Fukuoka international marathon shattering the one year old record held by Samuel Wanjiru. In just a few years Tsegaye rose from the dust to become one of the three favorites among all-time world great Haile G. Selassie and Kenyan Beijing Olympic marathon gold medalist Samuel Wanjiru to become 2009 World Championship gold medal in Berlin.
With four pacemakers in line the last in line dropped at the 25km mark as Tsegaye broke away from the pack at the 30km mark. It was a record 14:17 he covered the 30-35 split distance, crushing the record held by Haile in 14:43 in 2006. Taking his amazing speed into consideration, sports analysts said the only two to contend Tsegaye in Berlin are Haile and Samuel.
Hometown competitor Satoshi crossed the finishing line in 2:06:10 followed three minutes later by compatriot Arata Fujiwaru in 2:09:13. Are the three Haile, Wanjiru and Tsegaye to meet in Berlin for the 2009 Champioship? That is a dream come true for athletics fans.
In other news former 2004 double world cross country champion silver medalist GebreEgziabher G. Mariam wins the Cross International della Constucion 10km race. Twenty-four-year-old Gebregziabher held his nerve until the last hundred meters from which he dashed for a sprint finish leaving compatriot Tariku Bekele in second place, clocking 29:08, a split second earlier than Tariku.
Pre-race favorite Kenyan Mark Kiptro finished third in 29:10. Vincent Chepkor crossed the line fourth while younger brother to former world cross country champion Zeresenay, Kidane Taddesse, finished fifth.
In the women’s event Ethiopian Worknesh Kidane finished third after challenging ultimate winner Kenyan Linet Masai. After two births and three years absence from the international arena Worknesh, wife to men’s champion Gebregziabher, performed well above anyone’s expectation. Nineteen-year-old former world cross country bronze medalist Linet Masai covered the 5,000m distance in 18:59 while her compatriot Eunice Jepkorir came second in 19:38 followed by Worknesh in 19:50.
Premier league players suspended for two years
Mesoud Mohammed, Yonas G. Michael and Cameroonian Benowit have been suspended from Ethiopian football for two years. This is the first time the federation has passed such a strong decision on players who signed for two sides in one season.
The former Electric FC and Ethiopian national team popular defender, Yonas, who last played for Ethiopian Coffee, signed to Methara Sugar FC for two years, snagging a 25,000 birr bonus, only to change his mind and put his signature to national division Dedebit Club before the season started.
Yonas’ assumption in signing for two sides at the same time was that one of the two, notably Methara, will excuse him taking into consideration his popularity and his contribution to the national team. However, since the two sides stood their ground, the case reached the federation, causing the historical two-year suspension.
The same goes for rising midfield star Mesoud Mohammed who signed to Ethiopian Coffee pocketing a 30,000 birr signing bonus. When his former club, Electric, convinced him to stay for 40,000 birr made the crossover again. Thus, Mesoud, a very promising midfielder, is to waste two valuable seasons watching soccer from the sideline as stipulated by federation law.
When Cameroonian Musgini Benowit left Bahir Dar University football club at the end of last season, no one expected him to be stranded even before the start of the new season. Benowit signed to Methara Sugar FC in a two year contract only to later put his signature to Ethiopian Coffee. It is rumored he will be pocketing a five figure amount with Methara FC.
Despite the players’ willingness to return the bonus amounts to the respective sides and EFF’s effort to strike an agreement among the sides, all three players are suspended for two years.
“It is a good decision as it teaches others that they should abide by the rules,” a long time football fan commented.
Coffee, Electric encounter best in recent years
Insurance, Defense Force wins admiration
The action in Ethiopian Coffee’s encounter against city arch rival Electric on Thursday made for the recent years’ best showdown in the premier league. It was entertaining football with former top scorer of the year Tafesse Tesfaye’s long awaited return from injury as the turn around of Coffee.
Tafesse scored twice in his first appearance when the side won 3-0 over Nyala an in the opener on Thursday for the 2-1 win over Addis Ababa City Cup champion Electric. The win helps Coffee to revive its status as a strong contender for runner-up spot for the title is reserved for the defending champion Saint George still with the strongest side and best local talents plus some foreign players.
For head coach Tilahun who started feeling pressure from fans, the two wins in a row means a moral boost. Coffee is now second in the premier league table with eight points out of four matches. On Thursday both Coffee and Electric featured positive football that entertained the stadium’s crowded bleachers. Though the City Cup winning streak seemed to slip away from Electric’s head coach Asrat Haile, it is clear that he is in the process of building up a strong side since two years.
In Thursday’s other match, Defense Force, admired for building a physically strong, committed and collectively conscious side, defeated Nyala FC 1-0.
A new face for the premier league, head coach Negussie Desta appears to be gaining success in his very first season. Both his strikers are leading scorers. Fresh to the league Umer Akurir is leading the score sheet with four goals followed by team mate Medhane and Coffee’s Tafesse with each three goals.
Though Saint George is the strongest of the league clubs, crowd admiration goes to the clubs who came up with fresh legs.
Gebremedin Haile’s Insurance is the other side to win crowd admiration. Insurance is full of young and strong squad members. After no defeat in the past four matches with two wins and two draws it seems the side will be one of the strong contenders. Considering Gebremedin‘s previous record wait and see is the better alternative.
Newcomer Dire Dawa Kenema and Sebeta Kenema both need a lesson plan focused on how to survive in the top tier. Dire Dawa defeated Trans Ethiopia 1-0 at home while Sebeta lost away to Mugher Cement in midweek.
Footballers’ increased prize money questioned
The Ethiopian Football Federation’s (EEF) latest announcement of a significant increment in prize money has come into question as being beyond motivation for players, clubs and coaches. A significant number of soccer fans who closely follow the nation’s football developments believe there is no compensation for being thrown out of the international arena.
“I wonder whether the resignation of President Ahmed Yasin and the rumor that Vice President Solomon Alemseged plans to follow suit means the beginning of the end for the incumbent federation,” Mesker Belay remarked coming out of last week’s EFF press conference. “I doubt Vice President Teka Asfaw’s capacity to lead the federation,” he added.
Others considered the move as a ploy to cover the federation’s failure to stay in tact. They argue the federation is struggling to be the guiding body it must.
“Teka is known to be close to Saint George Board Chairman and the man who led the opposition to overthrow Dr. Asheber’s regime, Abnet G. Meskel, who is now the dominant figure in the federation,” Saint George supporter Muhaba Jemal
told Capital.
Nevertheless, EFF announced that the premier league champion will collect 150,000 birr (50,000 birr increase) and the runner-up will net 75,000 birr, while the second runner-up 45000 birr.
Individual rewards are also increasing. The best player of the season is to collect double last year’s 40,000 birr while the best coach and top scorer of the premier league will each to take 30,000 birr.
Similarly, the national league champion collects 75,000 birr while the runner-up and second runner-up receive 40,000 and 30,000 birr respectively. Best player and best coach of the season each receive 30,000 birr. Top scorer and best referee collect each 10,000 birr.
“The federation has never granted such big money prizes in its entire history.” a former national league player Wondwosen Ayele stated. “The move will help to develop the league.”
The federation stated in its announcement that the increment is to help boost the local tournament even if Ethiopia is excluded from international competitions.
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