Bagging his first ever Ethiopian Premier League title with this season’s surprise package Jimma AbaJifar, head coach Gebremedin Haile flew to Tigrai region to look for a new adventure with last season’s strong side Mekele. The Champions AbaJifar is to start rebuilding because a number of its key players migrated to the Tigrai region following their boss. “I wonder why he left the side that he built from the scratch to a miraculous championship title. It is amazing even leading AbaJIfar into the 2018/19 African Champions League didn’t interest him,” Admassu Assefa said.
Although it is a rare case that champion coaches leave their teams, Gebre may be looking for a new adventure with Mekele famous for huge home support and a lavish stadium. In addition to securing a lucrative new contract with Mekele, a number of his squad members who played a huge role in helping AbaJifar to dream championship are on their way to Mekele after signing new contracts.
The 2015 African Nations Cup veteran Seyoum Tesfaye from Dedebit, former national team defender Elias Biyadgelegn from Woldya, winger Samuel Saliso and midfielder Yared Hassen from Woldya, Ghanaian midfielder Gabriel Ahmed, and the midfield duos from champions AbaJifar: Yonas Germew and Amin Nesru are the star player that have reached Mekele. They also have extended the much appreciated Guinean goalie Philip Avono’s contract for another season.
After signing his handpicked players while others are playing hide and seek with the players’ transfer market jokers’ and fat pocketed middle-men, it appears that Gebremedin could quite achieve a new adventure and retain the title with a new team.