Former Manchester United, Inter Milan and Liverpool defensive midfielder Paul Ince is a player who is best at mixing up hard work with luck. His extra ability in midfield earned him every respect from team mates, opposite numbers and managers at all levels.
The first black player to captain England has now become the first black to manage a premier league side - Blackburn Rovers. The 41 year old Ince has signed a three year contract to replce former United team mate Mark Hughs who has moved to Manchester City. Paul Ince has broken every color barrier on the way up and now faces an even bigger challenge - success at premier league level.

Ethiopia announces ‘Golden’ Olympics team

The Ethiopian Olympic Committee (ECO) has announced the roster of athletes to represent the nation of the Beijing Olympics. In a press conference held at the committee’s head office, Youth and Sport State Minister Abdissa Yadeta remarked that the Ethiopian Olympic squad bound for Beijing is destined to bring home more medals than the record number collected at the Athens Olympics four years age.” We have set a goal of 10 gold medals to mark the new Ethiopian Millennium” Abdissa stated.
A 47 member Ethiopian Olympic delegation is to travel to Beijing, of which 37 are athletes. The final 3selection of 2 athletes is to be submitted only twenty four hours before the games begin.
In addition to athletics, Ethiopia will participate in Paraloympics and boxing. According to the State Minister, of the ETB 7mln collected for the event 2 mln ETB is from the state while the remaining is from sponsors and donors. “We hope to soon have the pledges promised by partners and beneficiaries.” Abdissa Yadeta said.
Ethiopian Olympic Committee president, Dagmawit Germay, on her part he heared that at the conference that cultural and tourism delegation is in full readiness to depart to Beijing to promote the new Ethiopian millennium to the world.
The biggest event, the marathon an, Ethiopian women squad comprised of first ever world marathon champion Gete Wami, world champion Berhane Aderre, Dire Tune and Bezunesh Bekele. Since this is the last event for Gete and Berhane to grab the only silver ware absent from their closets that is Olympic gold, the title may to return home for the first time since Fatuma Roba’s victory in Atlanta eight years ago.
Deriba Mergia, Tsegaye Kebede, Gudisa Shentema and Gashaw Melese line up for the men’s marathon squad to bring back the lost glory believed by many to be an Ethiopian right since all time marathon great double Olympic gold medalist Abebe Bikila, followed by Mamo Wolde and recent hero, Gezahne Aberra.
The athletics world is already in common consent that the 10000 meters is a clean sweep for Ethiopia . The question is which Ethiopian gets the gold. All time great long, distance king and living legend Haile Gebre/Selassie or crown prince Kenenisa Bekele? Or is Selehi Sehen to go after the big fish?
When it comes to the women’s 5000 meters it is simply a matter of formality as Beijing awaits to give away the gold, silver and bronze medals to the Ethiopian girls. Reigning world best Meseret Defar leads the line up that comprises record holder and world athletics hottest property, Trunesh Dibaba, and African champion Meselech Melkamu. It may be time for athletic fans to see womens Meseret Defar Vs Trunesh Dibaba highly charged show down come true. As for the 10,000 meter it is already an accepted truth where the gold medal is to go with undisputed champion Trunesh is and Athens silver medalist sister Ejegayehu Dibaba beside her.
Kenenisa, who had a double Olympic gold medals dream shattered in Athens of Algerian great athlete Hisham El Groug is set to suceed this time around. Ethiopian athletics fans really want that double Olympic gold (the shifter) ever since great Olympian Mirte Yifter did Moscow Olympic. Kenenisa’s younger brother Tariku, young talent Ali Abdosh and world junior champion Abraham Cherkose are to feature in fighter jet formation flying the tri color.
African champion Gelete Burka is the hot favorite for the 1500 event and is determined to grab her first ever Olympic gold while Derese is Ethiopia’s hope to bring home the first ever gold in a middle distance event the 1500. Rising star Nahom Mesfin and new comers Mekdes Bekele and Zemzem Ahmed in the women’s are out to test their muscle in the 3000 meter evens in their first ever Olympic. Mola Getachew represents Ethiopia in boxing in the 51 kg category.

Abraham Cherkose clocks world youth record

Trunesh & Seleshi win Rome

Abraham Cherkose clocked a new youth record in the 5000 meter in the 12th World Youth Athletics championship held in Poland. Following his golden victory Ethiopia clinched fifth in the medal table with Kenya an impressive third.
Lurking behind Kenyan Matew Kepkoich for most of the distance Abraham hit the road fast once he reached the last four hundred meters mark where no one around him ever tried to react in time. Crossing the finish line in 13:28:30 Abraham slashed twenty seconds from the previous record held by Kenyan Hilary Chenong. Matew Kepkoich finished second.
When the championship that brought 166 nations represented by 1520 athletes of whom 755 men and 675 women closed on Sunday in front of 20000 spectators World strongest five athletics nations won the first five of the top table. With 11gold, 4 silver and 2bronze US America stood first followed by next year world athletics championship host nation Germany that collected 6 gold, 1 silver and 3 bronze, a total of 10 medals. Kenya finished with 4 gold, 5 silver and 2 bronze that add up to 11 medals then Russia 4 gold and three silver total 7 medals. 2gold, 3silver and 5bronze Ethiopia finished fifth with 10 medals.
In other athletics news Trunesh Dibaba and Seleshi Sehen both won the 5000 meter Golden League athletics meeting in Rome. Though in the women’s event the organizers expected Dibaba to crush her world record 14:32:57, it failed to come true for the slow tempo of the race.
In the men’s event it was Valencia winner Tariku Bekele who dominated the race until the final 50 meters. Two rounds to go nine athletes took the leading pack with three Ethiopians Seleshi, Tariku and Ali Abdosh and Kenyan Eluid Kepchoge. When the bell went it was Tariku in the lead alone and determined. Fifty meters from the finishing line Seleshi pounced in to the front line and go all the way to the finishing line in 13:04:94 followed by Kipchoge in 13:05:265 and third came Tariku in 13:06:00. Seleshi’s come back at the very right time means an additional fire power to Ethiopian 5000 meter squad for Beijing Olympics.

Mulualem & Dawit on the list of seven to leave Saints

Thirteen years in the famous Saint George jersey, Mulualem Regassa is one of the seven players set to leave the club following head coach Mitto’s announcement that they are not included in his plans for the coming season.
The Serbian coach of the year submitted a list of the players in his plan for the new season out of which team skipper Mulualem Regassa and left winger Dawit Mebratu are excluded. For many, Saint’s supporters, the list has turned out to be a shock, as it means losing two veteran players.
Arguably the nation’s one and only accomplished playmaker until very recently, Mulualem has been instrumental in the club’s success as well as the Ethiopian national team’s winning the East and Central African Zonal championship twice. Mulualem is yet to decide whether he is to move to another club or hang up his boots for good. Those who claim to know him better suggest he is too smart to throw away any good opportunity coming from Saint George and thus he will a wait the club’s move on his future. “He may land a junior or youth team coach’s job and considering the benefits why should he risk a future for one or two seasons?” remarked a former team mate.
As for Dawit, still the nation’s best leftfooter he may move to another club rich enough to pay him good money. Currently in the USA, Saint’s and national team left winger Dawit Mebratu served for more than half a decade in which time he helped win many trophies and titles. Though a left full back, Dawit is famous for his fast dribbling, long shots, fearless character and is usually he is on the score sheet. Considering Dawit’s current form many clubs are sure to try to get his signature. “I don’t think the coach took the right decision in sacking Dawit,” says Ahmed a long time admirer of the player.
Two full seasons on the bench, goalkeeper Deyas Aduna has finally divorced with Saint George. Former Electric and national team goal keeper, he is currently in the USA for the silver jubilee of ESFANA and the rumor is that he is likely to he there for good. Goal keeper Wubeshet Desalegn and defender Wondmagne Mengestu both regularly on the substitute bench have already signed for Insurance pocketing substantial transfer fees. Ghanaian Solomon Apaku is out and on his way to the Belgian league while Kenyan George Audi is to return home.

National squad to camp at Imperial for three months, seven players joins party

Seven players are called to join the Ethiopian national side in preparation for the decisive second leg home match against Morocco. Two wins and two losses Ethiopia is third in the table with six points the quest for booking a place in the 2010 South African world cup final still on fire.
Head coach Abraham T/Haimanot under pressure from the public to form a better side capable of at least a face saving home victory, has called seven additional players to join the squad that started intensive preparation as of Monday lodging at Imperial Hotel. A home win means Ethiopia is one win away from finishing runner-up of group eight and final qualification campaign.
Though it may be too late to dream of qualification, Ethiopian Football Federation chose the option of better late than never and decided to camp the players for the coming three months that is to the date the decisive clash takes place. An intensive three months preparation followed by two international friendly matches against Sudan and Yemen the Ethiopian national senior side under head coach Abraham T/Haimanot and assistant Wondemagne Kebede faces its decisive home encounter against Morocco.
Of the seven players added to the squad the most popular absentee is Lemi Itana, currently considered the one and only player in the name of play maker in the premier league. Although Lemi’s play maker role is mostly a side play rather than penetration many of the sport fans complained his omission.
Yonas G/Michael former east and Central African champion and with two Ethiopian premier league titles with Electric FC currently Ethiopian Coffee no-nonsense defender Yonas G/Michael is the other to be called to join the squad . Is the Terrier full back who loves flying tackles and past his pinnacle the right choice to stop fast galloping Moroccan wingers? Yonas’s recall is yet to be proved.
Suleiman Mohammed of Saint George, goal keeper Wubeshit Desalegn and Dawit Estifanos from Insurance and Samuel Negussie of Defense Force and Tadesse Teka of Harar Brewery are the remaining five players called to join the party.
For one of North Africa’s strongest soccer sides Morocco, the match is going to be a tricky one with a serious consequence for the newly appointed head coach Frenchman Roger Lamerre. The 2002 European champion Lamerre is expected to impress his employers winning his debut match even if it is an away match in one of the world’s high altitude cities Addis Ababa.

Ronaldinho signs for Milan, Kaka –Ronaldinho pair come true

When he was with PSG, five years back the then manager Fernandez told him never want to his face again and the club supporters stoned his flashy car while he was in practice with team mates. Brazilian Moreiera de Asis Ronaldinho Gaucho packed out of France head down only to bounce back in Spain this time twice FIFA world best player of the year with Barcelona . Under manager Frank Rijkaard Ronaldinho blossomed to greatness performing the best of his talent. Barcelona not only dominated Spanish La Liga but silenced historical rival Real Madrid by winning two successive titles followed by the second European champions league title in the club’s history. Now it all seems a once upon a time phenomena.

Five seasons at Camp Nou, twenty eight year old Ronaldinho said no to club discipline and played only eight games through out the season lamenting on injury after injury. Barcelona ended bare handed for two successive seasons and the axe fell on the Brazilian’s night life and Samba love. Club president( currently under pressure for resignation) Laporta and company sacked best ever manager since Johan Cruyff Frank Rijkaard then told Ronaldinho through newly appointed manager Pepe Gardiola (for sure a stop gap manager)he is no more in the clubs future plan and better look a place for himself.
Ac Milan grabbed the chance to the trio’s in one jersey dream (Kaka & Ronaldinho & Pato) come true and paid USD 33.6 million plus 6.3 million if the club books a place in next years champions league. Ronaldinho who scored 91 goals in 200 appearances in five seasons for Barcelona signed a contract with Italian giant Ac Milan that stays until 2011. “Sure we will be back where we belong and that is on top European football in no time” Italian president, Ronaldinho’s admirer and club owner Silvio Berlusconis said in excited for the having world cup champion who saw every honor at football under his wing.

Amadu cup Basketball championship ends,
Water Design & Rental Houses win

Basketball must be the angels’ favorite sport for they sent a holy savior from Senegal to help the sport survive in Ethiopia. That Senegalese Ambassador to Ethiopia Amadu Kibe is sponsoring the Addis Ababa basket ball championship “named after him Amadu Cup” for the second successive year.
At the 2007-08 championship final held at Arat kilo Sport’s center in the presence of his Excellency Amadu Kibe, Gambian Ambassador Sajo Diallo and other invited guests, Water Sports won the men’s championship title while Rental Houses took the women’s.
The one week Addis Ababa basketball championship “Amadu Cup” sponsored by with ETB40000 brought together four teams each in both men and women teams. After a surprise last minute comeback Water Sports won the men’s final with 62-58 score line. Water Design Sport’s final minute performance scoring a three point ball from afar took Ethio Investment players by surprise and hardly to score points from the mouth while the crowd went wild and for every basket.
The women’s title goes to Rental Houses which defeated Ethio Investment to 69-64 points. Rental Houses revived in the second quarter after a bad start that gave Ethio Investment clear domination. Had it not been for Aynalem Aberra’s target excellence Rental would have ended a looser by a mile. Title winners Water Works and Rental Houses each collected ETB 3,000 prize money with the runner up in both categories Ethio Investment received from Gambian Ambassador Sajo Deyalo ETB 1500 for each category. Money was also given to best players, coaches and top scorers of the tournament.
The best players of the tournament prize went to Simon Tsegaye of Ethio Investment in men’s and Aynalem Bekele of Rental Houses in women’s while Eskinder Daniel of Testes Boller and Ruth Asheber of ICS school took the prize for men and women junior players of the tournament respectively. Mola Admassu of Rental Houses and Samuel Mengestu of Water Design Sport collected best coaches of the tournament prize. Top scorers of the tournament prize were given away to Nudaba Wabel of Cherken with 44 baskets and Aynalem Aberra of Rental Houses with 46 baskets. “We have a grand plan for next year and that is bringing a team from Senegal to participate in the ‘Amadu Cup’ tournament” remarked Addis Ababa basketball office head Wondwosen Zekargachew.