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Gete & Tsegaye win New Castle half marathon, Dejene share history with Abebe & Mamo

Beijing Olympics bronze medalist Tsegaye Kebede and the first ever World Marathon Serious champion Gete Wami dominated the 28th edition of the Great North Run half marathon events in New Castle-England while little known Dejene Yerdaw became the third Ethiopian to win worlds oldest, Slovakia marathon.
After her disappointing mid race walk out of Beijing Marathon 35 year old Gete Wami made an impressive comeback in New Castle , winning the half marathon event clocking her personal best time. It was a three horse race among triple Olympic medalist Gete Wami, unknown Kenyan Magdalane Mukunzi and Jo Pavey of Great Britain since the seven kilo meter mark. Mukunzi had been in the lead the past kilo meters with the two cautiously behind. 800 meters from the finish it was three again. At 400 meters Gete sparked with no response from the two and went all the way to the finish line clocking 59:45 followed by Mukunzi 1:08: 52 and Pavey in 1:08:53. “I did not expect Mukunzi to challenge me so strongly.” Gete remarked after the race.
In the men’s event it was Tsegaye alone from the start minding his own business. He split the group that consists Rotterdam , London and Chicago marathon winner Kenyan Felix Limo, world marathon champion Luke Kibet and world cross country double medalist Gebregzabher Gebremariam. He went ahead and alone dreaming while those with much experience were busy thinking where and when to a killing surge. Tsegaye clocked 59:45 followed by G/Egziabher G/Mariam in 1:01:29 and USA Abdirahman third in 1:01:33. “The victory was a family affair for Gete’s husband is coach to Gete and Tsegaye who rose from gathering wood for 30 cents a day to Olympic bronze and thousand dollars payday” wrote BBC sport reporter.
In the 85th International peace marathon held in Kosice Slovak, the oldest marathon in Europe, thirty year old Dejene Yerdaw is crowned the third Ethiopian champion after marathon legends Abebe Bikila in 1961 and Mamo Wolde in 1969. Covering half the distance along with pace maker David Macori, Dejene’s pace until five kilo meters from the finish line was so astonishing a new record was in question. However he couldn’t set new record but finished in 2:10:51. Eight Kenyans battled for second place from which Jonatan Kibet finshed second followed by Josef Mutiso. In the women’s event Ethiopian Firehiwot Dado finished second in 2:37:34. Kenyan Selina Chelimo was too strong for the tow ethioians who followed her home. Chelimo clocked 2:34:23. Radia Adello followed her compatriot to third place in 2:39:23. Dejene and Chelimo each received the 12000 Slovak prize money.

Deriba Megersa leads Ethiopian squad in Brazil to day

Beijing marathon diploma holder Deriba Megersa leads Ethiopian half marathon squad in Brazil for IAAF world half marathon meetings to day. For the first time out side Europe one of IAAF’s most prestigious world athletics calendar to day’s world half marathon event brings together athletes from more than 51 nations.
Deriba, who missed Beijing Olympic gold in pain leads highly regarded Ethiopian men’s squad while in the absence of national record holder in the distance Bezunesh Bekele, Udinese-Italy Marathon runner-up Astede Habtamu leads the women contingent. In the dearly awaited world half marathon to day, the battle for victory is among athletes from six nations Ethiopia, Kenya, Romania, Spain, Russia, Japan and Uganda. Winning the meeting in five occasions between 1942-2002 Kenyans dominate the meeting. Ethiopia won the men’s title for the first time in 2001through great Haile G/Selassie. Berhane Aderre’s second place in 2002 following Paula Radcliff is the best record in the women’s event.
Spearheaded by Deriba Mergia the men’s squad comprised of Abebe Dinkesa, Eshetu Wondemu, Gudisa Shentema and Ragi Assefa. Turning his back to truck to fully focus on road race and having the best time in 60:03 in half marathon, Abebe Dinkesa is one of the favorites to help Ethiopia win the show down today. Eshetu Wondemu has the second best time in the distance in 60:01with Gudisa and Raja clocking third and fourth best time respectively. Taking in to consideration the Ethiopian’s current form Brazil must be a place for big party tonight.
The women’s squad comprised of twice Great Ethiopian Run champion Genet Getaneh, last year great Ethiopian Run second runner-up Aselefetch Mergia and Ethiopian half marathon reigning champion Abebu Gelan and first time at international athletics arena Meseret Mengestu. Though, Bezunesh Bekele still in disappointment to join Ethiopian national squad since her exclusion from Beijing Olympic despite winning in Chicago and having the minima for Beijing Olympic, Astede Habtamu is said to have the gut and character as strong as a nail to lead the Ethiopian squad to victory. This time around Romania, Japan and Russia are strong contenders in the women’s event and said to field their best athletes in the distance while the men’s event is considered exclusively an African affair among Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda.

Ethiopian Premier League sides preparing for the new season

Despite no indication that the dispute between Ethiopian football federation and world soccer governing body (FIFA) to come to an end sooner, premier league clubs are seriously engaged in their pre-season preparation. Sixteen sides are taking part in the season’s two round championship.
Of the sixteen sides the majority is seven sides belong to the capital city while Oromia and Southern Regional states represented by four and two sides respectively. Harar, Dire Dawa and Tigray each have one flag bearer.
Defending champion Saint George is the hottest favorite to retain the title with out much fuss in contention. Financed by the club patron Sheik Mohammed Al-Amoudi, Saint George is in its own class while others are to be categorized. Former champion Electric, arguably the most popular club in the nation Ethiopian Coffee, so far under achievers Ethiopia Banks and the only regional side to win premier league title Awasa Kenema are considered the strong ones to some how mount a serious title challenge against Saints.
Electric under new head coach Asrat Haile and some new signings appeared with new agenda that is claiming the title for the first time under club manager Belayneh Teshome. Retaining most of last all its players with a substantial signing bonus
Ethiopian Coffee’s big rivalry against Saint George seems past history for Coffee is still in collecting second fiddlers in all departments. The best talented players all match to the champions with the remaining to join Electric, Banks and as a last option to Coffee. Saint George has a foreigner coach Serbian Mitto where as Coffee having yet-not proved at league level Tilahun Mengesha in the hot seat. For the first time in more than a decade Ethiopian Coffee side lined from being a major soccer power in the country.
Saint George stands higher while Electric, Banks, Insurance and Coffee in second category. Although a strong side, twice the league champion, Awassa kenema is just a regional side meeting ends the hardest way. While those in the capital have a strong financial backing from those companies they represent, the regional clubs are not blessed in terms of finance.
The newly appointed Ethiopian Football Federation executive body with a vision to narrow the gap among these clubs announced that surely the ban will be lifted sooner. A one month 44 sides Ethiopian knock out champion will kick-off in two weeks time after short break the season to presume.

Tottenham manager Ramos under pressure

Leading Tottenham Hot Spurs to its first ever major trophy and UEFA cup place in his very first season Spaniard Juande Ramos is currently under pressure to become the third English premier league manager to be sacked in the past three months. Bottom of the premier league with just two points, without a win in the last seven matches Ramos appeared oblivious of what to do next with his squad already announcing they are no more to understand his way of play. Of course booting out Ramos like West Ham’s Alan Curbishely and New Castle’s Kevin Keegan is not an easy matter for he has a 15 million pound worth three years contract with Tottenham. Though many blamed Ramos for signing the likes of do-nothing David Bentley for 15 mln pounds, the others who went the opposite direction Berbatov and Robbie Keane, are said to be the core for Ramos’s failure.
When new comer Hull City’s miracle performer Geovani sent a 30 yard free kick in to the top corner of the net at White Hartlane, the home fans rose in unison to call for Ramos’s sacking. That stunning winning goal wrecks Tottenham’s boat captained by Juande Ramos who announced that he will never resign.” I need just two or three wins and supporters would turn around the worst start since 1912.” said Ramos whose side is drawn with Dynamo Zagrab, NEC Nijmegen, Spartak Moscow and Udenese in UEFA Cup group stage. In the meantime club owner multi millionaire Joe Lewis urged South- East Asia investors to come up with 500 million pounds sterling.