MekeleSeba Enderta Coach Gebremedin Haile made history as the recent time first ever Premier League Coach to win the title back to back. He also wrote a new chapter in Ethiopian Football history to win two Premier League title with two different sides in two consecutive seasons.
It took the former Ethiopian national team and Saint George popular player more than a dozen years wandering in not less than ten sides before leading AbaJifar to the premier league title in its very first season at the top tier. Signing effective foreign players including Okiki Afolabi, champions AbaJifar was purely Gebremedin’s individual success story.
When Gebremedin resigned from AbaJifar instead of leading them in to African Champions League, he took many by sheer surprise. But he proved right for he led Mekele Town to championship title in his first season with the club.
Although a side built on a strong base under former Coach Yohannes Sahle, Gebremedin’s arrival along with some players from champions Jimma AbaJifar turned out the key factor for Mekele Seba-Enderta to became the first ever Northern Ethiopia club to claim the league title. Add to that Okiki and Amanuel G/Kidan top scorers of the league in consecutive seasons under Gebremedin, one could conclude that he has discovered the formula how to win the league title.
Two premier league titles and four knock out Cups under his belt; Gebremedin Haile became the most successful Ethiopian Premier League coaches among his contemporaries. Former Saint George player later turned Coach Seyoum Kebede and Ethiopia Coffee, former Coach Wubetu Abate are the only two bosses to win the coveted title.
Gebremedin Haile new chapter in EPL history book
Hagos, Letesenbet, Lemecha shine in Henglo
Twelve days after his lap-counting error in the 5000m at the IAAF Diamond League meeting in Lausanne, Hagos Gebrhiwet made no mistake in Hengelo on Wednesday, winning the men’s 10,000m in a world-leading 26:48.95. The women’s 10,000m, won by Letesenbet Gidey, was of a similarly high standard with the first 10 women – nine of whom are from Ethiopia. Previously unheralded Lemecha Girma made a huge breakthrough to win the men’s 3000m steeplechase in 8:08.18, winning by six seconds and moving to fourth on the Ethiopian all-time list. World U20 champion Diribe Welteji won the women’s 800m in 2:00.51.
The races doubled as the official Ethiopian trial races for the IAAF World Athletics Championships Doha 2019. And, based on tonight’s results, Ethiopia will field two strong trios for the men’s and women’s 10,000m in Doha.
When Yomif Kejelcha made his move at the bell and started his 400-metre kick for home, Solomon and Hagos went with him and moved past him with half a lap remaining. The two kicked hard down the final straight but Hagos proved to be the stronger in the closing stages, winning in 26:48.95. Solomon Barega, competing in just his second 10,000m race, finished second in 26:49.46, moving to second on the world U20 all-time list. Yomif Kejelcha was third in 26:49.99, the second-fastest debut 10,000m in history behind Eliud Kipchoge’s 26:49.02.
Like the top finishers in the men’s race, Letsenbet Gidey bided her time in the women’s contest before making a move in the final kilometer.
Letesenbet’s superior speed enabled her to pull away from her compatriot over the final 300 meters and she went on to win in a lifetime best of 30:37.89. Nestanet followed three seconds later in 30:40.85. Senbere was third in 30:45.14 with Zeineba Yimer taking fourth place in 30:46.24.
Ethiopia meets Madagascar in hard qualification
Ethiopia drew in group (K) along with former two time champions Ivory Coast, 2019 Egypt Cup final surprise package quarter finalist Madagascar and Niger. With the Elephants stand as favorites to win the group, Ethiopia appears to have humble adversaries (Madagascar and Niger) to contend for the runner-up spot.
Algeria who meets Senegal on Friday in the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations final in Cairo, must travel virtually the length of the continent for all their matches in the 2021 qualifying campaign. The Desert Foxes were drawn to play in Group H alongside three southern African teams, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Botswana.
Senegal, Algeria’s opponents in Friday’s final, will feature in Group I against Congo Brazzaville, Guinea-Bissau and eSwatini formerly Swaziland. Nigeria, who beat Tunisia 1-0 on Wednesday in the third place play-off, will meet fellow west African nations Benin and Sierra Leone plus Lesotho.
Ghana and South Africa are in Group C and both should qualify at the expense of Sudan and the winners of a preliminary round tie between Mauritius and Sao Tome e Principe. Although automatic qualifiers as hosts, Cameroon will take part to gain competitive match practice, leaving Cape Verde, Mozambique and Rwanda to contest the other Group F place.
Uganda, the strongest of the east African nations at the 2019 tournament, are with Burkina Faso, Malawi and South Sudan or the Seychelles in Group B. The four preliminary ties will be played in October and the group phase kicks off the following month with two rounds.
The winners and runners-up will qualify from each group except in Group F where Cameroon automatically qualify as hosts with the highest placed of the other three teams.
Groups:
Mali, Guinea, Namibia, Liberia/Chad
Burkina Faso, Uganda, Malawi, South Sudan/Seychelles
Ghana, South Africa, Sudan, Mauritius/Sao Tome
Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Angola, Djibouti/Gambia
Morocco, Mauritania, Central African Republic, Burundi
Cameroon (hosts), Cape Verde, Mozambique, Rwanda
Egypt, Kenya, Togo, Comoros
Algeria, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana
Senegal, Congo Brazzaville, Guinea-Bissau, eSwatini (formerly Swaziland)
Tunisia, Libya, Tanzania, Equatorial Guinea
Ivory Coast, Niger, Madagascar, Ethiopia
Nigeria, Benin, Sierra Leone, Lesotho
Degarege replaces Derege at newly promoted Wolkite
Seeing off promotion wizard Derege Belayneh, premier league new comer Wolkite Town appointed Degarege Yigzaw to the hot seat. ” You are yet to see new developments for the coming new season” Wolkite Town sport officials announced at a dinner reception to celebrate the huge achievements of steering the side in to the top tier for the first time in the club’s history.
Though Derege was expected to sign a new contract, the former Baherdar Town and Amhara Water Works Construction Coach Degarege Yigzaw popped out of the blue to take over the hot seat to lead Wolkite at the upper tier in the coming Ethiopian Premier League season.
Helping three Super League sides Sebeta, AbaJifar and Wolkite, Derege nicknamed “The Colonel” for being tough disciplinarian was much expected to stay in command his successful squad. But with no official explanation coming out of the club, Derege left quietly to look for a new adventure at the Super League next season.
Some suggested that Derege’s decision to part ways with Wolkite is very right for he is not good a smart player in the cut throat intrigues filled top tier. “Derege is an advocate of freedom to work and no interferences from club officials. His time at the Army Club helped him shape his personality” his old mate at Defense Force club remarked.
On the other hand critics suggested Degarege’s appointment is not fair for Derege deserve the place having vast experience as Coach as well a player. “Having no experience as player or a coach at a higher stage, newly appointed Degarege is likely to face a huge challenge to take the side in to the next stage. “I am in a very much doubt whether he could survive his first season at the premier league,” one critic commented.
