Gatoch can’t go home again, Tok joins Mekele

Ethiopian national team and former Ethiopia Bunna skipper Gatoch Panom is back from the Russian League but his dream of returning to his team for a second spell failed. Back to action after a ten month layoff, Tok James signed a short term contract with newly promoted Mekele.
Gatoch Panom was the first Ethiopian to reach a European major league team. However, his time with the Russian side Anzhi Macachacala was a nightmare because the giant midfielder saw little playing time.
When he came home he contacted Ethiopia Bunna through his agent and former team mate David Besha but the two parties failed to reach a contract agreement.
The player wanted a record 250,000 Birr after tax monthly salary. Bunna offered him 130,000 Birr tax included for one year or 150,000 Birr tax included for two years.
Following the disagreement David boasted that many are interested in Gatoch so he likely will not play in the Ethiopian League and instead might wind up in Egypt.
In other news defender Tok James, who played with Bunn and Neged Bank, has signed a six month contract with Yohannes Sahle’s outfit in Mekele. A free agent since the Ethiopia Neged Bank Club disbanded, Tok had fallen off the map and despite not playing for ten months Mekele has decided to take a gamble on him. He will be available after the transfer market opens up at the end of the first round.