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An all Ethiopian showdown in Hengelo

Including world all time great distance runner Haile Gebreselassie four Ethiopian renowned athletes take part in the 10000 meter showdown in Hengelo-Holland to book a place in the Ethiopian athletics national squad bound to Beijing Olympics.
One of IAAF’s annual international athletics schedule’s Henglo this time is considered the luckiest to have four Ethiopian great distance runners including Haile G/Sellassie, dubbed Mr Henglo. Olympic double gold medalist and four times world champ[ion Haile need to clock the minimim in the distance so that he can join the Ethiopian national 10000 meter squad spearhead by all time cross country champion and world 5000meter record holder Kenenisa Bekele.
Olympic silver medalist Seleshi Sehen, African champion Gebregziabher Gebremariam and the rising star Abraham Jeilan are the four athletes to battle in Henglo to represent Ethiopia, the hottest favorite for the Olympic 10000 meter medal sweep in Beijing Olympic.
Declining to take part in the Beijing Olympics Haile is working hard to grab a place in the distance also he disclosed that it may be in the 5000 meter he would line up for Ethiopia.
In other athletics news World 10000 meter record holder Kenenisa Bekele won in the 5000 meter race in Rabat Morocco CAA Super Grand prix after an astonishing performance in front of 25000 spectators. In what may be his last track performance before Beijing Kenenisa burst away to solo finish in 13:06:38. Kenenisa dared to cross the finishing line as close as possible to the 13 minutes mark and that is actually what happened just 06 seconds away. Moroccans Anis Selmouni and Mohammed Amyn finished second and third with 13:11:24 and 13:16:60 respectively.

Ethiopia entertain bottom of table Mauritania today

With three defeats out of three games in a row Mauritius national senior side visits Ethiopia today at Addis Ababa stadium.
Two defeats in a row no one dreamed a battered Ethiopian side to return with three points away despite Mauritanin losing two home games. However the only winning goal from reigning Ethiopian premier league top scorer of the season Salhadin Said, Abraham T/Haimanot grabbed his first ever win as the national team head coach. A 3-0 away defeat at the hands of one of the continent’s heavy weights Morocco followed by a disappointing 2-1 defeat in front of the home crowed only few consider Abraham a coach capable of bringing change to the nation’s football, currently at its worst ever.
According to sources close to EFF, there appears some interference from the national soccer Technical Committee concerning the selection and the line up the day Ethiopia lost to Rwanda in the first leg match here in Addis Ababa. “Although qualifying to either the Nations or World Cup finals was a long shot, we threw away a golden chance of finishing runner-up that came from being drawn in a week group. Why did we not take the chance to our advantage?” said Hussein a former national team player. “I am sure we have lost all opportunities.” added Hussein.
Mauritanin not so big soccer, has so far lost all three matches one at home to a 4-1 score line to Morocco and a 3-0 away defeat to Rwanda before the latest 1-0 home defeat to Ethiopia. Thus comparing this to Morocco’s victory it is not surprising that Abraham’s squad returned with marginal victory. Are we to win today or once again suffer a nasty home surrender to Mauritius?
Crushing Morocco 3-1out home Rwanda is on top of group 8 with nine points. An all out attack since the very start of the game, Croatian head coach …. Took all three points after one of all time’s famous home victory. Three wins out of three Rwanda appeared to secure at least runner –up spot that means automatic booking to Angola 2010 African Nation’s Cup finals. Morocco favorites to win the group, is now second with six points with the decisive home clash against Rwanda to take place today in Rabat. Ethiopia is third with 3 points followed by Mauritanin glued bottom of the table with no points.

Letay & Teklu win 24th Abebe Bikila marathon

Although Ethiopia’s world renowned athletes failed to take part for they are already eyeing Beijing Olympic in less than two months time, the 24th annual Ababe Bikila international marathon brought more than 489 athletes from 27 clubs in both men’s and women’s events. Add to it each two athletes from Kenya , Uganda and Tanzania plus a number of unattached athletes it is no wonder that Ethiopian Athletics Federation keeps the event on top of its annual calander.
In the women’s event where 86 athletes hit the road in the windy Sunday morning the pack stayed clustered for most of the distance until the final seven kilo meters where three athletes Letay Negash of Prison Guards, Alemtshay Hailu of Defense Force and Robe Guta of Omedlla broke away to take the lead. Two kilometers from the destination Addis Ababa stadium Letay and Alemtshay dropped Robe and stayed shoulder to shoulder before Letay geared up her pace at the final couple of thundered meters. Alentshay did her best to catch up but to no avail. Thus Letay crossed the finish line in 2:42:30 to take the gold medal followed by Alemtshay in 2:43:51 to claim silver then Robe coming third for the bronze in 2:44:46. Getu Mendaye finished fourth to help her club Omedla win the team gold.
A tight three horse race until they reached the stadium gate the men’s event happened to be one of the tightest showdowns in the events all time history. Teklu Tefera of Defense Force, Rege Deresu and unattached Chala Dechasa made a majestic triple entrance the spectator in the stadium rose in unison to a thundering applaud. The race decided in the track in front of a cheering crowed.
Teklu the wisest of the three appeared to keep some extra stamina for the final surge and when he did they were taken by surprise and a bit late to react accordingly. Taking that few seconds’ hesitation to his advantage, Teklu heated his pace up to cross the line in 2:18:51 to claim the gold medal with Rege Deresu coming second two micro seconds late in 2:18:53. Unattached and much admired Chala Dechassa finished third in 2:19:05.
In the men’s Regional event it was Oromia that swept the medal table. It was an all Oromian only show down the only athlete to come in the middle is Folisho Tumo of Southern Region to claim the fifth spot. Kebede Degefu, Seifu Fekana, Shimeles Hailu, Berhanu Bekele all from Oromia Region took from 1-4th place. In the Veterans event Bertola Mosisa won gold followed by Adno Abegaz and Dejene Taddese.
Prize money ranging from 800-6600 ETB was given to the winners and those who finished up to sixth place.

Ronaldinho, Deco & Eto’o thrown out of Nou Camp

Pep Gardiola must be one hell of a tough decision maker when he announced three of world soccer's most sought after international players are not in his plans for Barcelona next season. Well, he may be a hero collecting six La Liga tiotles but isn't that a bit weird to say bye to the Nou Camp giants?
Anyway, the most unlikely replacement of recent time, most successful Barcelona manager Frank Rijkaard (two La Liga titles & European champion in five seasons) thirty seven year old former Camp Nou famous player Pepe Gardiola's first major decision happens to be the hanging out to dry of former FIFA world best player of the year Ronaldinho Gucho, three times African player of the year Samuel Eto'o and Portuguese ace midfielder Deco.
"I have no plan's for the three of them. Eto'o and Ropnaldinho would have stayed if I am sure they will score sixty goals in between. As of Deco he can follow Filip Scolari to Chelsea", Gurdiola accompanied by club president Juan Laporta told reporters.
The Brazilian mid field ace Ronaldinho resting rest thanks for the break is likely to join Ac Milan in the new season. With a promise from Italian Prime Minister and Ac Milan owner Silvio Berlusconi to become the highest salaried paid player on the world, Ronaldinho has no love lost with Barcelona and is expected to star in Italy for the new season. As of 27 year old Samuel Eto'o who scored 77 goals in his four year stay with Barcelona, there are many clubs in England and Italy waiting for his answer. Ac Milan is the front bidder and it means Ronaldinho is to join force with Eto'o once again.

Brazil lose to Paraguay , Dunga's head in the hunt

South African defending champion Brazil 's fans called for the resignation of Carlos Dunga after a defeat followed by a home draw with arch rival Argentina . Six rounds in to 2010 South American World Cup qualification the five times world champion Brazil sits fourth in the table four points away from top of the table Paraguay.
Although Brazil has a long history of lackluster qualification campaign the friendly 2-0 loss to Venezuela followed by the 2-0 defeat at the hands of Paraguay for the first time in 45 years then three days later a goalless draw with Argentina made Brazilian soccer worshippers furious and they asked for Dunga's head to roll. "A campaign of shame" wrote Rio 's O Globo in its head line. Three games without scoring and no creative player in the squad this is time for Dunga to go home said a 21 year old street vendor.
The pressure was not only on Brazil but also on Argentina which settled for two draws in a row. Full of super stars and on top of FIFA's world number one soccer table settled for a home draw with Ecuador followed by an away goalless draw with Brazil . Argentina is second on the qualification table with eleven points.
Three days after the historical 2-0 victory over Brazil, Paraguay faced the first shocking defeat of the campaign. Paraguay traveled to Bolivia to play 3600 meters above sea level and in front of a chanting 18000 home supporters including the nation's president Evo Morales. Thanks to nature's help and two goals from highest paid player in the nation, Botero's double, Bolivia snatched its first win in the campaign with 4-2 score line and away from bottom of the table. Paraguay is leading the table with 13 points from six matches. Two away draws in a row the one with Peru followed by Ecuador Colombia is third with ten points. The South American marathon world cup qualification campaign brings together ten Latin American nations from which the top four to book an automatic 2010 South Africa World Cup final place.

African Cup of Nation’s shocking weekend

The 2010 South African World Cup qualification campaign third round encounters brought some shocking results to the notorious soccer heavy weights. Although Morocc’s 3-1 away defeat and reigning champions Egypt’s 1-0 away loss are considered shocking results of the week end add Ugand’s home victory over African Cup of Nation’s host Angola, Ghana’s 2-0 away defeat to Gabon and Sierra Leone’s 1-0 home victory over South Africa it means the on going qualification campaign is full of twists.
After the shock 2-1 home defeat Tunisia is now second in group nine with six points while the Burkinabes took the driving seat with nine points.
The Egypt versus Malawi clash appeared to settle in a goalless draw until stoppage time when Chiukepo Msowaya volleyed the winning goal that stunned Hassan Shehata, African defending champion Egypt’s head coach. With DRC thrashing Djibouti to a 6-0 away victory Egypt is now in a set back to make it in to the cup final. All three in group 12 have equal six points with Malawi first, DRC second and Egypt third on goal differences. Despite the away loss, Black Stars Ghana lead group five on goal difference. Libya managed a surprising away victory over Lesotho to share the top seat with Ghana on six points.
Under new manager yet a 2010 World Cup host, South Africa faced a real problem of building a side capable of making in to the knock out stage. Let alone the World Cup the nation’s cup qualification campaign appears in real set back. To add salt to the wound, group four underdog Sierra Leone won at home to the visitor’s dismay. Though it is a 1-0 defeat the group stands all three each at three points while group favorite Nigeria ride high with nine points after a 1-0 away win over Equatorial Guinea .
It took only twenty minutes for the Crains of Uganda to humble the 2010 Cup of Nations host Angola. Featuring a furious attack from the start, Uganda stunned the visitors with two goals through Eugene Sepuya and Andrew Mwesigwa and the third coming ten minutes in to the final whistle through Dan Wagaluka. Angola snapped the consolation at the final minutes. Angola Benin and Uganda each have six points.

Spain favoritse for famous win against Italy today

Sailing through the group stage turbulence defending world champion Italy appeared in good shape for to day's quarter final clash against nick named Under Achievers, group stage mighty force Spain.
Not so convincing a side since Alberto Donadoni took over as national manager; Italy is full of flat footed veterans hardly to combat the youngsters who love to run all over the pitch.
It is neither to the credit of the squad nor the manager. Rather it is for Romanian international, playing a club football to Inter Milan; Adrian Mutu, Italians must pay respect. Mutu's penalty miss helped Italy reach the quarter final stage. Italy defeated France at the group final match not because they were smarter. They won the match because they are much younger than the French squad. As seen in the 3-0 group opening match defeat against Holland , Italians are not much fond of running all over the ground. To make things more complicate the one and only knowledgeable play maker Andrea Pirlo and the only expertise on how to stop a menacing midfielder like Fabregas, Genaro Gatuso are absent for suspension.
Spain on the other hand is full of young and yet well experienced squad. Sixty nine year old Luis Aragones stubborn enough to sit Spain's most popular and all time top scorer Raul Gonzalez and get away with it formed a magnificent squad full in every placement. Spearheaded by tournament wonder and leading scorer David Villa and the sleeping giant English premier league striker Fernando Torres, it is hard to imagine how Italy could stop the slaughter.
As of the mid field nothing to compare the Italians for Aragonese's kids are young, easy on the ball and happy running all over the mid field. Gatusso is saved from being a play thing for the likes of Cesk Fabregas and Pirlo from running all over instead of creating chances for team mates.
As for Spain, defense is not going to be a life and death situation to stop the one and only Luca Toni a real test both physically and technically. The problem with the marksman is that he needs twenty shots before he finds the back of the net and there is no way the Spaniards are serving him with such quality.
One of world all time best goalkeepers Gianlugi Buffon, is the one man Spain need to beat. Sure Marco Van Basten's brats did it on three occasions but all to the sloppy defense an acrobatic saving of Adrian Mutu's penalty it is Buffon who saved the whole Italy from embarrassment followed by a hard kick to throw out manager Donadoni. Ekar Kasilas may be a bit lower than Buffon. But who cares as far as the solid defense is there to protect Spain's territory. With a hundred percent record at the group stages Spain is favorite to make it in to the semi final stage for the first time since 1964, under the then coach Javier Clemente. Aragonese who stayed in coaching for more than three decades may get lucky to retire with European championship title the second for the soccer nation since 1964. Spaniards Vs Romans to day.