Haile wins Melbourne while Imane, Abebu conquer France

It was an eventful weekend for Ethiopian athletes who conquered major cities around the world. The athletics wonder Haile G. Selassie won the first ever Australia Great Run in Melbourne while Imane Jida and Abebu Gelan astonished North France.
Tariku Bekele became the first ever athlete to win the 9.4 km Cross International Valle de Llodio in Spain, while Alemayejhu Shumeye took top spot in the Beirut Marathon where the Ethiopian women’s squad spearheaded by Alemtsehay Hailu swept the medal table.
The Melbourne 15km road race was just a three horse race from the start. Haile, in full command of the pace, beat out world half marathon champion Kenyan Makau and world 5000m silver medalist Craig Mottram. Mottram was left out in Haile’s first attempt to quicken the pace at the 5km mark, and then the Kenyan’s at the 11km mark proved too much. The ‘emperor’ strolled alone at the finishing line in 42:40, Macau in second in 43:15 then Mottram third in 43:35.
“I am happy to win in Melbourne where Ethiopia took part in Olympic Games for the very first time,” Haile told reporters after the race.
In the women’s event where Olympic gold medalist Romanian Constantine Dita, 2004 world cross-country champion, Australian Benita Johnson and New Zealand’s Alice Mason took part, world marathon champion Catharine Ndriba comfortably won in 50:43. Alice mason finished second in 53:23 followed by Weightman in 51:31.
“I love Melbourne. I’d love to come back again with family,” Ndreba announced after victory.
The 10km Cross de L’Acien in Leffrinchouche in France event title went to defending champion Imane Jida who finished the race in 28:15. Though Kenyan Mike Kigan was out to avenge last year’s defeat and dominated for most of the distance, tall, well built and at ease Imane made his decisive attack at the last lap leaving behind Kigan who by that time had no steam to respond. Kigan clinched second place in 28:12. Ethiopian Bune Tola came third with his compatriot Sahle Bethona fifth.
The women’s event ended in all Ethiopian affair with 18-year-old Abebu Gelan leading the five woman squad. Gelan clocked 18:20 to spearhead the line up followed by Emebet Bedada, sisters Mimi and Alemnesh Belete and Dulce Anne-Felix. It was an astonishing performance well orchestrated to the surprise of the flabbergasted spectators.

Meta Abo Beer gives Coffee life line,

retains board chair

Financially struggling Ethiopian Coffee FC has landed strong support from the Ethiopian Commodity Exchange and Meta Abo Brewery becoming one of the top moneyed squads. Though until recently considered arch rival to the nation’s oldest, richest and most popular club, Saint George, Coffee in the past couple of years faced high financial constraints hardly able to sign big name players. The result has been a decade existence never winning the premier league.
After the commodity exchange took over the auction of the nation’s coffee it has now agreed to cover a 2.5 million Birr annual budget for the club. While club supporters were heel over head in happiness they got an additional boost: one of the most popular breweries in Ethiopia, Meta Abo, signed a three year sponsorship agreement with the club on Thursday.
According to the agreement Ethiopian Coffee is to promote Meta Abo Beer with senior, youth and women soccer teams donning jerseys with the Meta Abo Brewery logo. Furthermore, the logo will be on every club vehicle none other than Meta Abo beer is to be served in the club’s two big bars. In return Meta Abo is to pay 650,000 Birr in each of the coming three years.
“It is fantastic and I will be at the two bars every evening gushing in Meta,” a veteran Coffee fan announced.
In other news the club’s board chairman for the past 10 years, Abdulrazak Sherif, announced that he had reversed his prior decision to resign from his post. It is recalled Abdulrazak submitted his resignation to the board some three weeks back accusing the federation of unequal treatment of his Coffee club. Abdulrazak told the “Reporter” sport page that he changed his mind following the federation’s positive move towards his club and the insistence of his colleagues as well as friends to stay.
However insiders who claim to know the president accuse one of the leading coffee exporters, Abdulrazak, of using the club as a personal springboard for popularity.
“In his 10-year reign, the club has nothing to show except decline in every way. We are signing second fiddler players and are stuck with a coach not even considered on that level. He always pushes away former popular players and is never willing to strengthen the supporters association,” Sheferaw Yared, a long time Coffee supporter, remarked. “I wonder what he is doing there.”

CityCycling Championship ends in color

When the four-week Adds Ababa Cycling Championship closed on Sunday, Taye Hailu, Ashenafi Tekeste and Martha Godana won their respective categories. Abib Teraye took the junior’s title. Overall winners each received a brand new cycle from the event sponsor Zekolina Construction.
The first championship since the strong campaign to revive the sport at a national level was launched courtesy of the Addis Ababa Cycling Federation, the competition has gathered a following.
In the major course cycling category the neck-to-neck battle between Taye Hailu and Addis Kedir ended in favor of Taye although both failed to win the closing day.
The star cyclist of the final chapter was Seyfedin Aman who stood second runner-up at the final count. Taye won the title collecting 34 points while Addis stood second with and crowd favorite Seyfedin stood third with 26 points.
The mountain bike title went to Ashenafi Tekeste whose cumulative score topped the table with 172 points. Ferew Tezera clinched second place with 161 followed by Asfaw Alemu in third with 157 points.
With encouragement from the crowd flowing, the women’s event stood as the most entertaining for its full action performance. Martha Godana won the overall title with cumulative 37 points while Bertukan Belete and Senait Temesgen finished second and third respectively. In the junior showdown Abib Traye stood top of the table with 99 points with Sanded Pizaro second in 97 points and Wosenu Abay in third.
The Addis Ababa Cycle Federation gave away a special award for the nation’s most popular cyclist Geremew Demboba who represented Ethiopia in two Olympics. Besufekad Hailu the youngest in the championship also received a special gift. The federation was praised by participants for its efforts to organize such an inspiring event and its strong will to revive the once popular sport.

A family racing affair

In front of the largest ever Meskel Square crowd, the Ethiopian Motor Association opened its new season featuring the Addis Ababa City Circuit among 21 cars in four categories. The combination of the racers gave the event an almost family affair feel. Father Cardini Alberto versus son Cardini Carlo, a battle between Missalidis brothers and the dog fight between popular the Gula ; and then add the single woman racer … the day was a success for the association already in the build up of inviting international participants for the season's Highland Rally in January.
Though 11 cars registered for the below 1000cc category, three failed to the line up due to last minute technical problems. The race among the eight well tuned cars in two sets each with eight rounds was the best showdown of the race.
Anteneh Belachew won with his 126 Fiat after dominating the race. Taking the lead from the start, Anteneh finished with no one even close. The younger Cardini in a Fiat 600 crossed the finishing line second with Cardini Alberto in third spot.
Equally famous with his flashy Beetle VW, Luca Missalidis roared to the championship in the 1000-1300cc category. Luca featured his famous turns and swerves to stay atop followed by Gonges Roberto in his Suzuki. Younger brother to Luca, Alex, finished third. The title for the 1301-1600cc went to former cyclist now turned racer Abebe Getachew.
The above 1600cc category was a Gula brother's affair for they were the only racers. However it turned out to be a tough job for the elder and better experienced brother Umberto to come out victorious. Umberto flashed his famous 7UP painted car in first place followed by Vittorio.
Though the association is working hard to find a lifeline to ensure survival, the quality of race cars are deteriorating and new cars hardly ever enter the picture. The most inspiring aspect is the determined entrance of youthful competitors but in poor quality cars.

Ronaldo crowned ‘King of Europe’

Manchester United mega star Christiano Ronaldo has been crowned 2008 Balloon D’or, European best footballer of the year, with Barcelona’s wonder boy Lionel Messi and Liverpool’s deadly marksman Fernando Torres coming in runner-up and second runner-up respectively.
Thus Ronaldo who scored an unbelievable 42 goals at the position of winger to help his club win the English Premier and European Champion’s league titles became the fourth Manchester United and the third Portuguese player to capture the accolade.
At just 23, Christiano beat out Brazilian Caca to the throne after 77 of the 96 journalists voted him as European number one of the year. He tallied 446 points followed by Messi and Torres with 281 and 179 points respectively.
Ronaldo became the first United player to receive the honor since George Best in 1968. Now he is in a league rubbing shoulders with world soccer greats Maradona, Beckenbauer, Platini, Marco Vanbasten and the likes.
The first footballer to win the award was Stanley Mattews. The Blackpoll winger received the first ever Balloon D’or award in 1956 at the age 41. Mitchel Platini is the only player to win the accolade in three successive years while Marco Van Basten also won it three times.
The one and only goalkeeper to achieve the honor is Lev Yashin while Denis Law was the first Manchester United player to receive the honor in 1964 followed by Bobby Charlton two years later.
Christiano Ronaldo took the Golden Ball while Lionel Messi and Fernando Torres took the Silver and Bronze Balls respectively. The year 2008 Europe Best ten are Ronaldo, Messi, Torres, Ikar kassilas, Xavi Hernandez, Arshavin, David Villa, Kaka, Zlatan Ibrahimovich and Steven Gerard.

EFF president submits resignation

In a shocking sudden move, Ethiopian Football Federation (EFF) President Ahmed Yasin submitted his resignation effective immediately. Rumors are spreading like wildfire that Solomon Alemseged, known for his integrity since his days as a international referee, is to resign soon from his Vice Presidency post.
Zewdenesh of EFF office confirmed to Capital in telephone interview that the president has resigned and the final say will come from the national assembly but denied reports about Solomon's similar fate.
The unpopular Vice President now acting as President, Teka Asfaw, and executive committee member Yesmashewa Seyoum presided over a press conference held on Thursday where the organizers denied access to two BBC World Service correspondents at the start but later permitted them after pressure from local journalists. At the press conference Teka told reporters the meeting with FIFA in Zurich ended before it started.
"We expected a lot but in return we got what one could not expect from such a big entity as the world soccer governing body. If FIFA sticks to the ban we, together with the German lawyers are to head to the international arbitrary commission, Teka told the conference. "We believe FIFA will soften its stand."
Yesmashewa stated that the EFF executive body is ready to negotiate with either FIFA or Dr. Ashber except on issues concerning office handover.
"That would be impossible for the plan to promote a brighter future for the country's football is already rolling," Yesmashewa added.
In the meantime Teka announced 150,000 and 75,000 birr is allotted for the premier league and national league champions at the end of the season. Out of the 602,000 birr allotted as prize money for the season, 15,000 birr will go to best player and coach of the premier league each while 10,000 birr is allocated for the top scorer and 5,000 birr for best linesman.