Ethiopian women swept American Rock &
Roll medal table
Kenenisa and Gelete won Scotland
While world cross country five times double champion Kenenisa Bekele
and world youth champion Gelete Burka dominated the Scotland - Edinburgh
10 kms show down, on the rise to stardom Adanech Zekiros and compatriots
swept the American - Arizona held marathon race.
Twenty five years old Kenenisa, back from long honeymoon vacation,
had had a score to settle against Eritrean zeresenay Tadesse who
won the Mombassa world cross country championship once he walked
out of the race for harsh weather.
Although settling the score turned out a real challenge, twice world
best athlete of the season Kenenisa showed his might once again
sending a message to his would be strong contenders in the planet.
How so ever Zeresenay tried to stay close behind the champion he
failed to catch up with the inform Ethiopian. Kenenisa’s final
700m acceleration saw him retain the title for the third consecutive
year in 27:42, the Eritrean coming second one second later. The
two Kenyans, although they led in most of the race, simply left
the race to fight for the third place. Renowned Kenyan Eliuod Kepchoge
finished third in 27:43 followed by Josef Ebuya.
In the women’s race that is the great Bupa international world
cross country show down, back from three months rest for her honeymoon
Gelete Burka easily retained her title for the third time. With
little challenge from highly regarded Kenyan Vivian Cheriot, Gelete
strolled to the finishing line in style clocking 19:58 followed
by world cross country champion Kenyan Linet Massay who came home
fifteen seconds later. Cheriot finished third clocking 20:34 to
claim the bronze.
The America-Arizona Rock& Roll marathon was an Ethiopian only
show dominated by rising athletics star Adanech Zekiros. Even though
the contention was among only Ethiopians, the spectators paid them
an applause for their heated competition and sportsmanship. Adanech
covered the 42 kms distance in 2:31:14 followed by compatriots Selome
Getenet and Asnakech Mengestu in 2:34:01 and 2:36:18 to sweep the
medal tables. This is Adanech’s second successive Rock &
Roll marathon victory.
Haile won Dubai but missed the record
World marathon record holder Haile G/Selassie won the Dubai marathon
although he failed to break his own three months old record. All
time long distance best Haile was highly expected to set new world
record in the world’s flattest venue and it was to come true
until the final 7km.
Double Olympic gold medalist Haile made every effort to keep his
word of breaking his own record but clocked 27 seconds slower than
his astonishing record breaking performance in Germany three months
back. Haile Gebre Selassie, also one of the leading investors in
Ethiopia, added about ETB 2,540,000 to his fortune. The Dubai world
record prize pool was £508,000.
A new shot at football revival
Following the humiliating down fall of Dr Asheber W/Giorgis’
cabinet, the newly elected Ethiopian soccer governing body appointed
an advisory board that brought together high government officials
led by business tycoon Sheik Mohammed Al-Amoudi. This monumental
development for the first time in the nation’s football history
is said to bring a new dawn for the sport for most of the appointees
are long time government servants at the highest offices, well educated
and above all successful in their own way. They all are either former
football players or well connected with the sport at some point.
“What a surprising move by the incoming executive body. Had
there been such a structure things would not have gone this much,”
said Mengestu Seyoum, an ardent Omedla supporter.
“These people proved themselves as responsible individuals
on the way up the government ladder. Therefore, I believe better
days are soon to come to Ethiopian football” remarked Wondemagegn,
a long time Addis Ababa stadium customer. Here is the future of
Ethiopian football.
Al-Amoudi’s, the Ethiopian business tycoon and one of the
very few world billionaires, love for the sport has been demonstrated
in many occasions. Rolling millions of ETB every year for Saint
George club, extending his helping hand for any one in the sport
and sponsoring CECAFA annual championship for three successive
years, the patron for the Ethiopian oldest football club, Al- Amoudi
is board chairman.
Former Saint George and Ethiopian national team famous player His
Excellency State Minister of Foreign Affairs Tekeda Alemu, the man
who has been long in the sport is vice chairman of the board.
Ethiopian Electric Power Corporation General Manager Meheret Debebe
had played for long forgotten Berari Kokeb football club youth team.
Never with out a ball in his car, the man behind the glory of Electric
FC two premier league titles is board member.
Trade and Industry State Minister Tadesse Haile is popular among
the public for his easy going and friendly attitude, a big asset
in the sport circle, is also a board member.
EFF president for short spell Inland Revenue Minister Tezera Wedajo
is a well known football fan and member of the board.
W/O Tadelech Dalecho, State Minister of Culture and Tourism, is
the only woman in the board with a lot to carry to build a better
future for the sport. With women’s soccer coming popular in
Ethiopia, having her in the board could translate into the appropriation
of due attention for the future.
Dr Tewoldeberhan G/Egziabher, Environmental protection authority
director general, Ato Kassahun Dendero and Ato Mohammed Sade are
the remaining board members now engaged with the heavy task of reviving
Ethiopian football.
Kevin Keagan is back to Newcastle United
A decade and six managers later one of England’s all time
best player returned to St James Park for his second spell with
Newcastle United.
When the return of Keagan was announced on Wednesday many Geordies
turned out in the street surrounding St James Park dancing in joy
for the return of King Keagan the manager who helped the team promote
in 1993. Finishing third in the club’s very first premier
league season Keagan managed to steer Newcastle as strong title
contenders leading the league with twelve points until Manchester
United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, top in Keagan’s all time
hate list came from behind to claim the title that broke the King’s
heart for good. He resigned in the following mid season to try his
luck with Fulham then England national side only to retire for the
past two years.
Though Newcastle is twenty five points behind the leaders and Keagan
can do nothing about it the Geordies are wild waiting to enjoy once
again the famous sexy football that is attack…attack ..attack
play.
Since Kevin Keagan’s departure have come and gone six managers
no one of them to match the record achieved by him. Kenny Dalglish,
Ruud Gullit, Sir Bobby Robson, Graeme Souness, Glenn Roeder and
the latest to fry Sam Alardyce. Following Keagan’s heroic
return to St James’ Park, Geordies all time great footballer
with 148 goals in 303 appearances Alan Shearer is to join the coaching
staff.
The 2008 African Cup of Nations favorites
The 2008 African cup of nations host Ghana dreams to bring back
old glory as continental dominant side winning the title at home
for the fourth time. Despite producing great African talents like
Abede Pele and Tony Yeboah, Ghanaian national side nick named Black
Stars, failed to bring back the 1960’s soccer glory currently
at the hands of neighboring Cameroon and Nigeria. Managed by well
experienced Claude Le Roy and spear headed by Chelsea mid field
warrior Michael Essein the hosts appear in pole position to claim
the title and share the honor with Cameroon and Egypt. Ghana has
a string of talents to line up for the 26th cup of nations. Richard
Kingston between the posts, European based Sulley Muntari, Razak
Pimpong and world cup hero Stephen Appiah and Asamoah Gyan are highly
regarded as more than capable of lifting the trophy in front of
the home crowd. The last time Ghana won the cup was in 1982 quarter
of a century back. What better chance than battling at home? Ghana
took part in fifteen of the twenty six nation’s cup finals.
Defending champion Egypt is one of the hottest favorites to lift
the trophy of 2008 Ghana cup of nations final for a record sixth
time. Known as the Pharaohs, the strongest side of North-African
nations, Egypt is a serious contender for the title despite the
presence of numbers of strong sides to represent West African nations.
One of the three CAF founding members Egypt sent its strong squad
comprised mostly of home based players. Of the star players in the
squad dfeadly striker Amr Zaky, Portsmouth based midfielder Shawky,
hot blooded striker of Middlesbrough Ahmed Mido, Hossam Gahly of
Derby and Feyenoord based Sherif Ekramy are the few Egypt depends
upon to the record sixth title of the nation’s cup. This is
Egypt’s 21st cup final record appearance in the tournament’s
51 years history.
The Super Eagles are all the time regarded as having the best collection
of talents in the continent. The problem is they are equally notorious
coming to discipline. Thus Nigeria remained with just two championship
titles despite being the continent’s soccer power house. Sure
Nigeria stands top of FIFA world soccer ranking but who said that
is the most important factor to win titles? For Nigeria winning
Olympic and world youth championship titles appear easier jobs.
With Fourteen cup final appearances Nigeria won only twice the last
time thirteen years back. Managed by former European champion Germany
Berti Vogts Nigeria has so many big talents to field in Ghana. Lazio
based striker Stefan Makinawa, Everton’s Yakubu, Kanu and
John Otaka of Portsmouth, John Obe Michael from Chelsea and Obafami
Martin of Newcastle are the few to star in Ghana 2008 cup final.
The first African nation to reach world cup quarter final stage
Cameroon has one of the strongest national sides in the continent.
Nick named The Indomitable Lions since the lions roared as the continent’s
heavy weight in 1984 Cameroon has the most dedicated and disciplined
squad together with the best talents to lift the trophy for the
fifth time and share the record with Egypt. Failure to qualify for
German world cup final is an additional motive for the players to
compensate football passionate Cameroonians. Spear headed by three
times African best player of the season and FIFA best player of
the year award second runner up Samuel Eto and the continent’s
number one goal keeper Spain based Edris Kamani between the posts
Cameroon appears simply the hottest favorite to claim the title.
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