Tuesday, October 15, 2024

Ethiopian Premier League gets interesting

With the Premier League leaders losing points in the middle of the week and the mid-table teams gaining momentum, the race for the title is wide open. Dedebit leads the race with 25 points from 12 matches followed by Saint George with 21 points from 12 matches.
When Saint George tasted its first ever defeat at the hands of Wolayta Dicha last weekend, football fans noticed that Dedebit was the runaway league leader. Two days later visitng JimmaAbaJifar took everyone by surprise ending the leader’s six match winning streak, after a 2-1 away victory. Another twist took place on Thursday when bottom of the table, visiting Diredawa held the defending champions to a 1-1 draw in front of a packed crowed in Addis Ababa thus the Saint George dream of slashing the lead to two points puffed away into thin air. Abebaw Butako saved the day for The Horse Riders slotting the equalizer eight minutes before the final whistle.
After loosing only once in the past nine matches Gebremedin Haile’s Jimma Aba Jifar is emerging as a strong title contender currently sitting third in the table with 21 points from 13 matches. With seven goals to his name AbaJifar’s goal machine OkikiAfolabi was absent from Dedebit’s match but the team got away with a victory meaning AbaJifar has a squad seriously contemplating a strong title race.
With four wins and three draws in the past seven matches newly promoted side Mekele is also breathing hot fire into the title sitting fifth in the standings with 21 points from twelve matches. Mekele has beefed up their squad and could make a run in the second round.
Today’s biggest game is in Addis Ababab when Saint George hosts Adama currently fourth place with 21 points from 13 matches. A win for the visitors could make the title race even more interesting.

Related Stories