Capital

English player of the season short list

Ronaldo, James,Torres…

Four weeks to the closing of 2007-2008 English premier league season a six player short list announced is by Sky Sport for the season's best player award. With most soccer fans and media personalities un officially voted 23 year old Christiano Ronaldo, currently the hottest item in world soccer, the Manchester United wonder boy is the hottest favorite to claim the award for the third time. Steering Manchester United to top of the league table with only four weeks to go, scoring incredible 28 goals tally and a semi final champions league place no one in the list appear to touch. Ronaldo even with a stick.
England national and Ports Mouth goal keeper David James is the other candidate in the list for his tremendous contribution in helping his side reach to FA Cup final in addition to helping Ports Mouth to 6th spot in the premier league table. Many give credit to Ports Mouth's surprise package of the season performance for David James.
Arsenal's lone striker Malian Emmanuel Adebayor and midfield ace Cesc Fabregas are among the six candidates. Adebayor scored twenty league goals to help his side stay strong title contender until last week 2-1 defeat at Old Trafford while many agree what ever goals scored the key point is Cesc Fabregas the mid field power house. Though Fabregas failed to help his side at least go home with a single silver ware his versatile ability at this tender age makes him one of the best in his territory.
Twenty two goals in his very first season in the premier league twenty three years old Fernando Torres is strong contender for runner up spot. The Spaniard started slow but geared up high in scoring goals some breath taking ones. The credit to Liverpool 's journey in to champions' league semi final spot and fourth place in the league table goes to Torres the season's best striker. Liverpool team mate Steven Gerard is the other candidate for the award. Disappointed in Rafael Benitez's rotation policy Gerard was not as inspiring as he used to be in previous seasons. How ever, once things settled he played his leadership roll inspiring the Reds to champions' league semi final berth.
As the youngsters are the ones flourished, those competing for best player of the season award are the ones dominating Young player of the season award short list. Striker Gabriel Agbonlahor and Ashly Young both from Aston Villa are the only addition to Christiano Ronaldo, Fernando Torres and Cesc Fabregas.

Destination unknown, Ermias flys to Europe

Ermias Yohannes, the defender who joined Ethiopian Coffee at the start of the new season left to Europe unannounced a fortnight ago.
Formerly with Ethiopia Banks FC, Ermias had been one of recently sacked Coffee head coach Kifle Boltena’s major signings of the new season pocketing ETB 35,000 for two years contract.
However frustrated for the late start of the premier league new season followed by the side’s disappointing result the former Bank’s defender processed his visa to Europe with out the knowledge of Coffee and unknown destination.
One of the very few talented youngsters discovered by Youth Soccer Project, Ermias joined and grew up through Ethiopia Banks’ FC ranks before he moved to Coffee after eight years service and captaincy of the senior side. Played at all levels with the Ethiopian national sides including the Olympic side, the no nonsense defender had been one of the regular players of the Seychelles traveled national junior side under the late Mekuria Asheber.
“He would have been one of the all times best defenders in Ethiopia had he not joined Coffee under head coach Kifle Boltena. When Coffee suddenly decided to sack Kifle in the middle of chaotic situation, Ermias taught it is time to pursue his long time dream of traveling abroad and try his luck in foreign football.” said his long time friend and Bank’s team mate Getu. Though Coffee is his childhood dream team Ermias failed to tell his travel to Europe in fear of a demand from the club to pay back the transfer fee. said Getu full of confidence that his friend would pop up some where in Europe soon.
Former Ethiopia Banks skipper Ermias Yohannes.

Organization for the 16th African athletics championship at the final chapter

Organization for the 16th African athletics championship currently at the final stage, Ethiopian athletics federation announced the twenty four national athletes to represent the nation. In a press conference held at Ethiopian Millennium secretariat office all time world great athletes Haile Gebreselassie, Millennium secretariat director Seyoum Bereded and main sponsor of the event Nova Africa stated that hosting the continent's biggest athletics event is a real test for Ethiopia and every single citizen must get ready to play a part in helping the event achieve success.
The continental event brings together more than 43 out of 50 African nations and represented by more than 2000 athletes ready to battle in 24 different disciplines. The host nation Ethiopia takes part in nineteen disciplines out of which 80 percent success is expected in short and middle distance show downs. According Ato Dube Jilo athletics federation technical head, in addition to some minor finishing touches surrounding the stadium many works are already done and in the final stages. Even the installments of state of the art athletics sport equipment like photo finish and giant screens are ready for action.
"In addition to an award ceremony at Sheraton Addis for 54 African all time great athletes, twenty four-star hotels to accommodate the visitors, referral Black Lion and Bete Zata hospitals are on stand by for any emergency" stated Ato Getahun GebreGiorgis, the 16th African nations athletics championship organizing committee coordinator.
Two time woprld athlete of the season Kenenisa Bekele led the ten thousand meter squad that comprises of Seleshi Sehen, Ababe Dinkesa, G/Egziabher G/Mariam, Tadesse Tola and Habtamu Fekadu. The 5000 meter squad is spear headed by Tariku Bekele and brings together Abraham Cherkose,Bekana Daba, Ali Abdosh, Markos Genete and Demsew Tsega.
Reigning world best athlete of the season Meseret Defar leads the way to Ethiopian women's 5000 meter squad with Meseletch Melkamu,Koreni Jelila, Sule Utara, Aselefech Mergia and Workitu Ayano. Olympic and world champion trunesh Dibaba spear head the 10000 meter squad that comprise Ejgayehu Dibaba, Mestwat Tufa ,Wude Ayalew, Genet Getaneh and Teiba Erkesso. The four day event is the biggest ever atletics championship in Ethiopia and takes place from May, 1-4, 2000.

Abraham Tekle Haimanot appointed national coach

At long last Ethiopian football federation appointed Abraham T/Haimanot the latest Ethiopian national team head coach.
Formerly with Guna Trade, Ethiopian Coffee, Methara Sugar FC Abraham T/Haimanot currently with Mugher Cement FC took the hot seat scoring the highest mark among the five candidates who submitted their curriculum to the federation.
After almost a year with out a national team let alone a national team coach Ethiopian football federation reached a decision to hire a coach and announced a vacancy for the position. Surprisingly no one of the senior ones except Tsegaye Desta and Sewnet Bishaw applied for the vacancy. Seyoum Abate currently with Insurance Club, Kassahun Teka on a job hunt since the past three or four years and Worku Dergeba
Never heard since his resignation from Air Force FC were the ones expected to claim the hot seat. How ever the most seniors appear to learn their lesson the hard way and stayed away from the announcement giving room for those interested. On the other hand Sewnet the three time East African champion surprised many by applying for the job once he resigned on grounds of a journey to Yemen only to be back in less than half a season. Since then Sewnet is out of job and so far unsuccessful. "I think former national team and Coffee most popular central defender Samuel Kukusha's interview about Sewnet and his stay in Yemen really damaged Sewnet's profile." remarked Belehu Zewde a long time customer to Addis Ababa stadium.
The most traveled club coach Tsegaye Desta had been in and out in several occasions with the national side nick named the Fire man. Though he had never had a success story with premier league side (he helped Methara to a promotion) he was the number one choice under former EFF president Dr Asheber. Leaving the two seniors the remaining three are almost new comers except Gebremedin Haile who had been national assistant in several occasions. Though EFF did not announce what are the criterion for the selection Abraham T/ Haimanot got 88.15 points to stood first among the applicants. Had the criterion include playing to national side a necessity no one except Gebremedin would have applied in the first place. Even training wise the former Saint George and national team popular striker had been to Germany for eight months and achievement wise he helped Trans Ethiopia a strong title contender. As of Wondemagne Kebede former goal keeper with Police, Public Transport and Electric FC he helped Electric win premier league title and stirred Ethiopia Banks to promotion. Although he had been for a short spell with the national junior side many credited him in building the one and only age bound squad. Wondemagne is also one of the most traveled club coaches.
The newly elected Ethiopian Football Federation had done good job of appointing national coach even if it is too late to world cup qualification preparation. How ever it is also as important to know how Abraham, never to play at national level and yet not proves his salt as club coach stood first in the selection.
Abraham's big test will be at the end of May when Ethiopian national side travels to Morocco to kick off its world cup qualification campaign.

Sport Briefs

Valencia crush Getafe 3-1 to win the Spanish King's Cup for the seventh time. Despite a dismal season under former Netherlands and Barcelona popular defender Ronald koeman, (18 points out of 21 matches) Valencia managed an important victory that earned them a UEFA cup place next year. Manuel Mata scored the lead in the fourth minute with the second coming from Alexis Ruano seven minutes later. Esteban Granero gave the life line to Getafe from a spot kick Fernando Torres came from the bench to seal the score line six minutes from the final whistle. 16th in the Spanish La Liga table the win meant a lot to under pressure manager Koeman. King Juan Carlos handed the trophy to the champions.

Ethio- Turkish Elvan Abiylegesse won the European cup 10000 meter show down for the third consecutive year. Twenty five years old Elvan clocked 31:36:33 to become the first women athlete to 2in in three consecutive years. Kenyan- Netherlands Lornah Kiplagat came second followed by her cousin Hilda Kiblet. Formerly Ethiopian Girma Legesse, currently Selim Beyrak a Turkish citizen won the men's 10000 meter race covering the distance in 27:47:75: Twenty years old Girma brought bronze to Ethiopia at the 2003 World youth championship 3000 meter before changing his citizenship to Turkey. Carlos Castilga of Spain finished second. The two former Ethiopians helped Turkey to European Cup gold medal sweep in the distance.

After long speculation for a renowned foreigner to replace former European champion German Berti Vogts, Nigerian football federation opted for a local Shaibu Amoudu to take over the national team hot seat. This is the third spell with the Super Eagles for the 48 year old Amoudu whose best result was 3rd place in 2002 African nation's cup final. An amidst an uproar of media personalities and former big time players, the federation appointed Amoudu and his three assistants, former popular players Daniel Amokachi, Alloy Agu and Fatai Amo to a two years contract. Amoudu's first match will be in June against South Africa for world cup qualifier.

Having dinner with brother and agent Roberto De Asis, the very day he declared Italian prime minister for the third time, Silvio Berlisconi is confident to bring Brazilian wonder boy Ronaldinho to Ac Milan. The Italian giant Ac Milan owner Berlusconi who told reporters that he is an admirer of Ronaldinho since long time is ready to splash USD 31.6 million for his release from Barcelona and USD 12.7 million for a contract that stays until 2012. A lay off since April for muscle injury, Ronaldinho who helped Barcelona to two Spanish Liga and European champions league titles is said to have reached the no come back point with the side.