Former St George and national team assistant Coach Fasil Telkalegn took over Bahirdar Ketema replacing his former playmate at the national team Getachew Paulos. Building a squad from a scratch is what a huge challenge awaiting Fasil.
More than twelve years and five premier league titles at St George, the full back hung his boot after two seasons with Ethiopia-Medin, Fasil’s Coaching carrier gone through the rank to serve St George all the way to the top as assistant to the club as well to the national team.
Topping up his long time experience with a six month coaching course in Hungary, Fasil appears ready to come out of the shadow at Bahirdar Ketema the side that finished ninth in its maiden year at the premier league last season.
According to sources only two players are under contract this time thus the 40 plus year old Coach’s priority is about signing new players and start rebuilding the squad from a scratch.
Serving assistant to more than half a dozen foreign coaches and a stop-gap coach in numerous incidents, this appears a crucial time for Fasil’s experience to come in to test by fire.
“It took us years talking about Ethiopian Football problems. I don’t want to join that crowed rather I will try my best to be part and parcel of the solution” Fasil told reporters ahead of taking the hot seat at Bahirdar. “The myth that Ethiopians have superior technical quality is a bit bizarre for me since there is no comparison.”