General assembly fully supports executive body, asks FIFA/CAF to reconsider

The Ethiopian football federation General National Assembly passed a resolution in support of the federation’s stand in handling the situation towards FIFA/CAF’s decision to expel the nation from the international arena and gave a vote of confidence to the incumbent executive body. The assembly stood firm in opposition of handing over the office to the former president Dr Asheber W/Giorgis and urged the Ethiopian government to play a diplomatic role in settling the matter. “The nation’s higher body in soccer EFF national general assembly urges FIFA/CAF to reconsider its decision to ban Ethiopia from international football before assessing the situation considerably.” reads the assembly’s notion that went public after the closing of the two days general assembly at Sheraton Addis.
Youth and Sport Minister, W/O Aster Mamo, in her speech to the national general assembly stated that FIFA/CAF’s decision to expel Ethiopia from the international stage greatly disappointed the Ethiopian government that never interfered in the federation’s affairs. Since the problem calls for FIFA’s attention the government made considerable effort to iron out the disagreement among the parties concerned. “The ministry made several efforts to settle the matter amicably even to the extent of inviting FIFA officials to Addis Ababa so that they can have first hand knowledge before they reach to the final decision. Yet without so much counseling, it arrived to the decision of expelling Ethiopia. However since it is a decision by FIFA’ s provisional committee and such decisions are not final unless approved by the general assembly, we will proceed the diplomatic effort strongly” W/O Aster told the assembly.
Winning a sliding majority support from the national assembly, the incumbent EFF executive body led by Ato Ahmed Yasin announced vigorous action plans to help the nation’s football revive soon. With a short yet precise report the executive body disclosed what had been executed in the last five months including strengthening the financial muscle of the federation that had been in debt at the time of the hand over. “The federation has big dreams and appears to achieve it. If so, Ethiopian football may flourish again and may be success at the international level.” Muluken Mekuria remarked when the two days session closed on Tuesday midnight. “With assistant professor Sisay Zeleke and Instructor Kassahun Teka out of the picture, I hope the former president will soon realize what is best for the nation’s football and reconsider his decision.” added Muluken who claims to understand Dr Asheber better than many.

England thrash
Croatia 4-1 in Zagreb

Thanks to Theo Walcott’s hat trick English soccer reporters had a field day to tell the world what a fantastic side they have under Fabio Capello. Some even went far to predict how England would fair in South Africa world cup final. Hard to blame them for their last glory took place forty two years back.
Three days after the team struggled to beat lowly Andorra 2-0, England and Fabio Capello fielded an attacking minded side spear headed by Walcott, Rooney and Emil Hesky to rout Croatia 4-1 at Zagreb the best ever result since they beat Germany 4-0 at home. Walcott opened the score line at the 26th minute then a second receiving a perfect pass from Wayne Rooney who himself scored the third. Croatia tried a come back and pulled one back at the 76th minute but Walcott in his first full debut for England had the final word that made England 4-1 winner. Croatia ’s head coach Bilic declared England the best side of Europe after the match.
Portugal’s 3-2 home defeat was a real surprise for soccer fans. The most surprising part is that of the visitors Denmark came to win from two goals down. Portugal twice took the lead through Nani and Deco but the Danes came strong at the final minutes to win all three points. Finland also made life terrible for Germany taking the lead in three occasions before the 3-3 home draw. The host’s dominated the midfield in both halves while the Germans busy looking around for an opening. Miroslav klose saved the day for the three time world champions with his hat trick.
World cup runner-ups France revived from the campaign opening defeat by Austriat win 2-1 over Serbia . Thierry Henry opened the score line then Nicholas Anelka to seal the score line. Italy under Marcello Lippi has 100 percent record defeating Georgia 2-0 in mid week. Daniel De Rossi scored both goals.

Brazil, Dunga under pressure

After a goal less home draw with Bolivia mid week Brazil’s national coach Dunga is under renewed pressure from the public. Bolivia held the five time world champions to a draw despite playing with ten men for most of the second half.
When Brazil drubbed Chile to a 3-0 score line at the weekend many excused the former world champion Dunga for past sins. However the home draw against bottom of the group with just five points renewed the opposition the axe may soon come down. “A team without football, without a goal and without fans” wrote the famous sport’s news O’ Globo.
Despite the absence of striker Carlos Tevez and mid fielder Mascharano , Argentina settled for 1-1 away to Peru . Estebian Cambiasso gave the visitors at 82nd minute goal then it appears a win until late in to injury time an equalizer from Juan Fanu.
Chile’s 4-0 victory over Colombia is the top story of the Latin American world cup qualification campaign. It is for the first time in eleven years for Chile to defeat Colombia let alone a thrashing. The win gave the hosts a comfortable place in the table while Colombia is relegated to fifth place with only 10 points.
Paraguay on top of the table, defeated Venezuela 2-0 to stay four points away from Brazil. Paraguay lead the way with seventeen points from eight matches while Brazil, Argentina and Chile following each with thirteen points and goal difference. After a goal less home draw Uruguay sits fifth with 12 points followed by Colombia.
The continent’s big ones Brazil and Argentina still under pressure the Latin American world cup qualification campaign is open for any one country to grab. Nations that finished in the top four directly qualify for the South Africa World Cup while the fifth is to have a two-leg play-off match from an Oceania nation.

Kenenisa and Trunesh hailed Ethiopian heroes,
VIP passes for Olympic medalists

The first ever women athlete on the planet to win Olympic double gold medals in 5000 and 10000 meter Trunesh Dibaba, the sixth athlete to win Olympic long distance double Kenenisa Bekele and all time world greatest long distance trainer Dr Woldemeskel Lostre received a special gift from Ethiopian President Girma W/Giorgis and Prime Minister Meles Zenawi at the gala evening held at Sheraton Addis on the eve of the Ethiopian new year.
In the event to mark Ethiopia's all time Olympic heroes and an award giving away ceremony for Beijing Olympics winners, Ethiopian great athletes including Miruts Yifter, Eshetu Tura, Derartu Tulu, and Haile G/Selasie attended as Prime Minister Meles hailed the athletics heroes as the nation's invaluable assets and called the youth to follow their exemplary achievements. "The Ostrich Trunesh and with heavy duty Motor Kenenisa humbled the athletics world in their astonishing performance in Beijing" PM Meles announced.
Ethiopian all time Olympic medalists, eighteen in number, received a special VIP pass to Bole International Air Port with a VIP reception when ever they shuttle in or out of the country. The special pass for the VIP privilege called for an astounding clapping from those in attendance on the evening.
Beijing Olympics 5000 meter and Marathon bronze medalists Meseret Defar and Tsegaye Kebede each received ETB 50000 while Seleshi Sehen was bestowed with ETB 100000 for his silver medal in 10000 meter. ETB 10000 each for Ethiopian Radio Sport reporter Demissie Damte and FM Radio reporter Daniel while ETB 20000 and 15000 each for squad doctor Ayalew and the physico respectively.
The special award went to Beijing miracle performers Trunesh Dibaba and Kenenisa Bekele, that is the keys to the latest Toyota. After the award ceremony Prime Minister Meles announced that the Ethiopian government will do its best to help the country produce more athletic torch bearers.

Federar and Serina Williams take US Open

The 2008 US Open Tennis tournament climaxed as one of all time best tournaments after the classic cup final showdowns in both men and women’s. Roger Federer won for a record fifth time while Serena Williams after five years at the back bench returned to the throne defeating Jelena Jankovich in the cup final.
Smashing out Olympic gold medalist and world number one Rafael Nadal at the semi final, many feared the 21 year old Scottish Andy Murray was a phenomenon to be feared even for some one like Swiss maestro Roger Federar. Loosing world number one spot after 237 weeks to Nadal then back from Beijing with out the gold medal, Federer was not the hot favorite to win the tournament. How ever the 27 year old rose to the occasion lashing thunder after thunder never to give a breathing break for the first British almost would be a winner of US Open since Fred Perry in 1936. It took on hour fifty one minutes before Federer hammered Murray to (6-2), (7-5), (6-2). Though Murray 6th in world ranking received USD 1 million for being runner-up, the defeat heart broken him much that he appears glued to the seat after the match. In one of his best performances Federer fully dominated the match to win his 13th grand slam title one shy of the record held by American Pete Sampras. Federer received USD 1.5 million.
Twenty-six year old Serena danced wild like an eighteen year old girl receiving her first gift from her boy friend. Her last major victory in 2003 and world 126th defeated 23 year old Serbian cup final first timer Jelena Jankovic (6-4),(7-5) to claim back world number one spot along with USD 1.5 million. Number six Jelena tried to stop the title hungry American but to no avail. After sixty months in the backwoods Serena rebounded to grab her ninth title at the same time announcing to the world that she is back in the top spot and sure to stay a long time.

An over night millionaire, Pamela Jelimo

Kenyan 800 meter super star Pamela Jelimo has gone in to the history books to be one of the fastest self made millionaires on the planet. It took less than four months from the dust to join the millionaires’ exclusive club. The 18 year old embarked to international athletics at African Championship held in Addis Ababa coming out of nowhere to defeat 800 meter queen Maria Mutola, then a world shocking performance in Henglo clocking 1:55:76 and announcing that she can run even faster.
The 14 week gruesome IAAF Golden League athletics meeting. Berlin in 1:54:89, Oslo 1:55:41, Rome 1:55:69, Paris 1:54:97, Zurich 1:54:01 and the final leg in Brussels and the 100 KG Gold worth of USD one Million. Jelimo became the third women athlete next to Mutola in 2003 and Tatyana Lebedeva in 2005.
Asked what she will do with the money she said she has already decided to bank it at the home of the IAAF, the principality of Monaco, the tiny Mediterranean state which is world famous for its banking and shipping. “ I will have to help my family, she said “ I will invest intelligently because this money will help me and my family in the future.” Jelimo remarked.