Capital

Ahaza and Derege win gold in East African athletics, Mutola for eighth gold in Valencia

Ahaza Kiros still mad at her ninth place performance in world athletics championship 10000 meters that ruined her chance of automatic qualification in to the Ethiopian national cross country championship was out in Moshi-Tanzania to show her true self and got away with sweet victory. She took over all her contenders turn by turn to finish the 8kms showdown in 27:41.9 ahead of her compatriots Amane Godane and Mantu Dasha second and third respectively. Twenty five years old Ahaza was still furious even after crossing the finishing line two seconds earlier than Amane. Complete medal sweep by Ethiopians Kenyan Ann Chetanui finished fourth followed by another Ethiopian Alemitu Abera.
In the men’s 12km twenty one year old and in excellent condition Derege Regassa claimed the gold medal covering the distance in 36:32.6 Derege’s tactic of staying ahead of the race from the start proved that he is fit and confident of the win.
An ocean away from Africa, the South American nation Puerto Rico, also has seen the mighty Ethiopian athlete in action. In the ten kms show down Deriba Merga clocked 28:03 to claim the gold medal while Silas Kepruto of Tanzanian finished second in 28:04 followed by Kenyan Wilson Kipsang who finished in 28:09. The women’s title went to defending world cross country champion Lorna Kiplagart. Though Ethiopian Mestewat Tufa challenged her until the final hundred meters, Kiplagart, well experienced in reading her contenders mind pushed her to the limit then a killing stride that saw her gallop to the finishing line alone. Mestwa finished second
In other athletics news Maria Mutola, otherwise known as the Maputo Express is said to be in an intensive preparation for the 12th IAAF world Indoor Championship in Valencia- Spain. The most decorated athlete in World Indoor championship with seven gold medals Mutola thirty-five has already arrived in Valencia for a training camp. “I am here to win my eighth gold medal and stay as the best athlete of the event” said Mutola to reporters on her arrival to the city. Though Mutola’s 800 meter golden days past since couple of years she is determined to her final go in world indoor show down before her final destiny Beijing Olympic followed by her retirement. A commanding victor in the distance since 13 years in Barcelona , Maria Mutola ‘ Mozambique an athletics queen wants to hang her spike in pride.
The 12th IAAF World Indoor athletics championship takes place in Valencia-Spain from 7-9 March 2008.World athletics governing body IAAF, announced a jack pot of USD 2,490,000 is allotted for the championship.

Donikian and co-pilot won the 25th Millennium High Land Rally

Paul Donikian and co-pilot Panaiotis Antipas won the Millennium 25th Ethiopian High Land Rally over all championship title.
The race cars deteriorating every year obliging the racers to dig deep in to their pocket, the millennium event brought only ten race cars for the two day’s gruesome high land rally. Fortunate enough it was one of the association’s lucky days for five out of the starters came home in peace with the other half broken down hardly to start for the second day. “It is a small number comparing to any event that took lace in recent times. How ever the association got lucky “said a motor sport fan that traveled to the Eastern part of the capital. In the 1300 cc class Paul Donkian and Panaiotis Antipas stood first followed by Roberto Sangis and Oldo Dipedi. The 2000 cc title goes to the popular veteran Gula brothers followed by the other Gulas from Italy . In Turbo class where the going was so tough for every one of the veterans appear Rodolfo Valari and Henok Zeray won the day followed by the Techane brothers Anteneh and Emeshaw.
The over all championship, the most coveted cup of the occasion went to Paul Donikian and Panaiotis Antipas the first class winners while Roberto Sanges and Aldo Dipede finished second followed by Gula brothers.
Though the award ceremony followed by the gala dinner at Juventus club was as usual colorful and full of excitement the last minute notice of that Ethiopian Air lines present to award the winners the hall vibrated with thundering clap. What ever the award from Ethiopian the most well-come news was having the giant company as partner.
The over all winners second runner ups the Gula brothers presented with a round a Dubai round trip ticket while the runner –ups Sanjes and Dipedi ended as winner of the Rome bound round ticket The highest prize gone to the champions Donikian and Antipas that is a round trip ticket to US America.
Nevertheless the award was the biggest ever incentive for motor sport fans. In addition to those close partners of the association, Shell Ethiopia, Moha Soft Drinks, Moenco, National Motors, Electro Commercial and others the news meant sponsors are coming to the sport arguably the most efficiently running sport association in the country. Ato Tsega Kumelachew the association marketing and public relation officer gave his gratitude for all those who stayed behind the association and certificate given through the association president Ato Tsegaye Asfaw.

FIFA rules for Dr Asheber to resume EFF presidency

World soccer governing body FIFA shocked Ethiopian football fans with a ruling to reinstate former EFF president Dr Asheber W/Giorgis back to his presidency, followed by a general national assembly in April.
For the newly elected EFF executive committee delegates who traveled to FIFA headquarters in Zurich the journey was considered just a formality procedure to explain what happened in the last nine months concerning soccer in Ethiopia .
Since Dr Asheber and his one and only remaining committee member and right hand man Kassahun Teka were forced out of office after a majority vote of the general national assembly an issue over that was never in their expectation. “We assume it is a formality call from the world soccer governing body FIFA thus we sent two men delegation to attend” said the new EFF president Ato Ahmed Yasin at the departure of the delegation comprising vice president Solomon Alemseged and Ato Teka Asfaw.
How ever things turned up sour for the delegation when FIFA special hearings committee led by CAF president Issa Hayatu ruled that FIFA do not recognize the newly elected EFF executive body. “Dr Asheber W/Giorgis the legitimate EFF president must assume back his presidency soon followed by a general national assembly in April” was the announcement from FIFA the world soccer lord that failed to its promise to send a fact finding mission in ten days time counting from the day the 26th nations’ cup final came to an end.
Considering the latest ruling, FIFA appears oblivious of what was happening surrounding Ethiopian football. With all but two Dr Asheber and Kassahun of the EFF executive committee members submitted their resignation (accusing the former president a dictator impossible to work with) in black and white even before the national assembly’s election what it means by reinstating Dr Asheber and company back. FIFA seem more in love with its formality and procedure than the real problem faced by one of its member nations.
An empty stadium fixtures, the boycott of ten of the sixteen premier league clubs, termination of soccer tournament for the past nine months, the resignation of all except two of the former EFF executive committee members, the start of an illegal new league season, the meeting of the general national assembly followed by new executive committee election failed to convince the giant organization send a three men fact finding delegate to save the nation’s football. The easiest way out happened to be spicing and cooking all in Zurich .
In consideration to the harsh ruling FIFA failed to put crystal clear whether Dr Asheber should claim back his presidency together with the already resigned cabinet members (that many of them be deviled him) or he is to run the show single handedly until the general national assembly meeting takes place in April. For FIFA with bulged muscle, calling back the resigned cabinet members may be the right and easy solution. Who cares about the football in Ethiopia ?

Mugher leads, but Saints ride high

Though it is hard to tell who is leading the Millennium Ethiopian premier league new season, Mugher Cement FC of Oromia is on top of the table with 28 points out of fifteen matches while defending champion Awasa Kenema second collecting 25 points out of eleven matches. How ever what is surprising is that of Ethiopian football all time great side Saint George becoming the hottest favorite to claim the championship. Ethiopian Coffee’s survival in the premier league is now in question.
With Serbian head coach Mitto at the hot seat for his second spell with the club, Saint’s are riding high with five wins and two draws out of seven matches. The club’s new accusation front man Saladin Said scoring goals in regular pattern (at one occasion scoring four missing his fifth from penalty spot), no side appears to challenge them for the title. Saladin on the bench on Thursday Saint George crushed Water Works 4-0. Saint George is eighth on the table with seventeen points while Saladin is the leading scorer with ten goals on seven matches.
The traditional city arch rival Ethiopian Coffee seems hardly in a position to contend for title. Sacking the recent time most talked about head coach Kifle Boltena after just three matches and appointing former popular player Asrat Aduna appears hardly a title contention from the start. Actually kicking out loud mouth Kifle seems to make a miracle that the club won two out of two the latest an away 1-0 victory over Trans Ethiopia. Coffee has ten points out of six matches.
Ethiopian premier league defending champion Awasa Kenema with 25 points from eleven matches appears to wait rival Saint George. The difference between the two sides is just eight points with Saint’s having four matches in hand.
Little known Fasil Kenema and Addis Ababa Police are fourth and fifth respectively collecting twenty nine points each out of thirteen matches. Trans Ethiopia under former popular Ethiopian national team striker Gebremedin Haile is third with twenty four points out of 14 matches.

Awasa ready for surprise comeback today against Simba, Brewery travels to Rwanda

Ethiopian premier league defending champions Awasa Kenema FC entertains Tanzanian Simba for a return leg match in Addis Ababa today.
Back from the crushing first leg defeat in Daaresaalam two weeks back, Awasa Kenema need to rise to the occasion to shoulder the heavy under taking at hand that is an up hill to climb. In front of the home crowd striking one of all time surprise second leg come back that could help Awasa to go through to the next stage maybe a possiblity.
Tasting the first defeat in the Ethiopian premier league new season (2-0 to Addis Ababa Police) twice Ethiopian premier league champions Awasa Kenema’s only hope to stay on course is winning today’s match in most convincing fashion.
“However the task appears heavy, we are ready to do every thing possible. With the home crowd behind us, nothing is impossible in football” Kemal Ahmed head coach to Awasa told reporters.
Former Saint George and national team defensive midfielder Mulugeta Mehrete, back with the side for his second spell, many believe Kemal has formed a stronger side this season thus dreaming surprise comeback today. Sure it is an up hill task but taking the offensive from the very start might help Awasa to pressure some error from the six times East African champions Simba. This is the second time for Awasa to take part in international fixtures.The last time it went out at the very first round of the competition.
In the meantime, Ethiopian knock out cup holders Harar Brewery travel to Rwanda – Kigali for the return leg match against Ryon Fc. With a 2-0 first leg cushion the visitor’s seem to have an edge to make it into the next round. “We missed many chances that could have made the score line busy, but failure to find the target limited us to a two goal cushion. Anyway, we have prepared to return home with victory” Brewery head coach Tsegaye Kidanemarim remarked before the squad departed to Kigali. Harar Brewery’s latest win in the Ethiopian premier league, that is a 1-0 away victory over Ethiopia Banks is a moral boost for the squad that departed Wednesday to Kigali-Rwanda. “The players are very determined to win the first international fixture for the club. I am sure we will make it to the next round” Tsegaye told reporters before the flight to Rwanda.

Jijiga, home of true football fans

I will never forget my short visit to Jijiga, 640 KMS from Addis Ababa for two incidents. The first is the news that of kenenisa’s record breaks performance in Birmingham and the other Manchester United’s majestic 4-0 victory over Arsenal. Above all it was Jijiga’s football fans that stamped my visit to long memory.
Jijiga the capital of Somali region was not as beauty as my expectation. How ever the football fans were marveling. I saw the match in Jijiga’s Alamin Cinema hall where the live transmission goes on a life size screen. The entrance fee three birr, the hall was full of sell out crowed that I and my four friends had the only alternate that is a stand-up spectator. It was full to the limit with vibrant atmosphere.
The fans there are completely different from Addis where there are many places to watch live. I heard that in Jijiga Manchester United fans are the majority than Arsenal. More than 1500 spectators in the hall it was in complete discipline no one in a mood to fight each other.
Those in the front seat are popular ones for when ever a goal scored they jump on to the stage and show dances lead by the drum beaters. Four empty gericans are there to serve as drums. Because the transmission was in a life size screen the dancers do not disturb the on going live transmission. With the singing, drumming, dancing, clapping and somersaulting, you feel as if you really are in Old Trafford in the middle of the real drama rather than an ocean away in Jijiga. When ever United find the back of the net, the way how the fans celebrate leaves one in sheer fascination. Somersaulting and break dance are the standing acts of goal celebration. It strikes you how football could make people in wild mood. No wonder Armando Diego Maradona said “God loves Football” and for that matter no wonder the photograph of Maradona always next to Saint Mary in Naples- Italy .
What surprised me most remained until now is how different the fans behave comparing with their counterparts that of Addis Ababa city’s soccer fans so notorious for fist fights and knives. How so ever United fans celebrate each goal nothing rude or temperedness from the Gunners camp. Despite it is the most disappointing defeat may be the worst in recent times those Arsenal fans never to respond in quarrelsome way. Let alone a fist fight I saw no Arsenal fan frustrated enough to mount a battle cry.
It was only United dancing, singing and shouting while the ones in the Gunners side simply accepted defeat in a very sportsmanship manner glued only to the giant screen. The star of the show 16 year old Ahmedin had had the stage for him self at the half time break. Dancing, singing and some acts of goal celebrations as if he really was in the Red Devils home. No one ever threw a thing on him or try to force him down the stage. It was amazing. Arsenal fans simply stayed in their place resigned and bewildered yet in the true sense of sportsmanship that is accepting the defeat as simple sport phenomena.
The final score reading 4-0, I was expecting war when we went out side of the cinema. To my surprise no one was there every one going home talking loud and Viva United type of words. Some were kneeling down to kiss the big size United photograph at the entrance of the cinema. Others are hugging and salvo saluting each other. To put it in a wrapping it was so peaceful any one from Addis could hardly believe.
On the way out of the cinema I realized that I and one of my friends obviously an Arsenal supporter were not in Talking terms. You know why, he was angry since the third goal and I was adding benzene provoking him. I think he happened to control his anger because we are far from home. I told him I am very much happy to see him so furious and happier that I am the one who paid for him at the entrance to see him so burnt down. Had it not for our common friend Paulos we would have defiantly go for a fist fight. Typical football fans from the capital city. What a shame! I am grateful to “Great Ethiopian Run” for the chance of visiting Jijiga.