Six points from three matches including the famous 2-1 victory over Ethiopia Bunna, recently appointed Wolayta Dicha Coach Zelalem Shiferaw appears to have a grand plan more than mere relegation survival. Having a strong backing from the club Board room, he happened to be the star player in the transfer market signing seven including three foreign footballers.
In addition to handing a one year contract extension to veteran defender and team skipper Degu Debebe, the former Sidama Bunna, Hawasa and relegated Debub Police Coach is focused in rebuilding the squad back to the old glory days when Wolayta was one of the most feared football side in Southern Region.
Back from considerable rest following his wedding, Ethiopian former international defensive midfielder Gatoch Panom joined the rank in an undisclosed contract while former Sehul-Shere skipper Yonas Germay, left back Asnake Moges and previously with Mekele Ketema Netsanet Gebremedin handed contracts until the end of the current season.
In Order to build a strong team for the coming seasons, Zelalem brought in foreign footballers to the side for the first time after three years. The goalkeeper who played significant role in helping Jimma AbaJifar to its first ever premier league championship title two years back, Ghanaian Daniel Ojey and the striker who played to Electric, AbaJifar and Sehul Ivorian Didier Libre are expected to available when the transfer window opens at the end of March.
Three wins, one draw and five defeats, scoring 13 while conceding 16, Wolayta Dicha is currently ninth in the table just above relegation zone in goal differences.
Zelalem Shiferaw: Rebuilding Wolayta-Dicha in haste
African Union and FIFA commit to build on positive results and to accelerate collaboration
“I was delighted to speak with AU Chairperson who is a passionate football fan, and as FIFA and the AU have been working together for some time now, I am sure that under Félix Tshisekedi’s leadership our organisations will find ways to reinforce our joint efforts in many areas such as our ‘Football for Schools’ education project, the fight against match manipulation and any form of corruption, as well as safety and security at football matches across the continent,” the FIFA President said.
“We are encouraged by FIFA’s willingness to engage with Africa, and to use football as a force for good across the continent, and by working as close partners with the AU to ensure that we are playing our part in the continued development of the sport across the African continent,” the AU Chairperson and President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo said.
Speaking by videoconference prior to the FIFA Club World Cup final, the two leaders discussed a range of initiatives from the role that football through education can play in developing life skills for children, be that respecting rules and showing respect to match officials, or by encouraging teamwork and cooperation in order to succeed. It was agreed that both AU and FIFA shared a mutual vision for education through football, and further discussions to identify opportunities are now being planned for a face-to-face meeting between both leaders in Kinshasa in the near future.
The call provided the FIFA President with the opportunity to follow-up on previous discussions with Félix Tshisekedi’s predecessor, Cyril Ramaphosa, and to assure the new AU Chairperson that FIFA and football remain totally committed to maintaining the close cooperation and teamwork that has been built up between both organisations in the past two years.
The FIFA President also outlined the FIFA COVID-19 Relief Plan, while also stressing the important investment made to support the 54 African member associations through FIFA Forward, which has already delivered close to 300 projects across the continent since Gianni Infantino’s first election in 2016.
