A shocking away defeat at the hands of relegation threatened Arbaminch Ketema on Monday heralded that defending champions Kidus Giorgis’ dream of unprecedented five consecutive Premier League Titles is in danger. Though Dedebit appeared to fade away from strong title contention, newly promoted sides Jimma AbaJifar and Mekele Ketema are showing some character that this time they are up for their first ever league title.
An experienced head trainer Carlos Pinto from Portugal holding the reign and three of the five foreign players including Ghanaian debutant striker Richard Appiah in action against a side that has no foreign player and led by active goalie Jackson Fita, the question why an overseas footballers are here to sign a seven figure salary is getting stronger.
A first minute opener then the second at the 38th followed by the third six minutes later, by the time Pinto brought in full back Abebaw Butako at 48th minute followed by Appiah in the 52nd and veteran die hard Adane Girma at the 67th, the hosts had already camped back on their own half with solid defense. Add two missed golden chances from Berhanu Adamu the goal tally would have even gone higher. Such a three star complete domination is hard to accept for Kidus Giorgis.
Pinto was expected to come up with some ideas to reverse the situation even before the break for it is a rare chance in Ethiopian Football to come back in away match let alone with a three goals advantage. Teams from the south appeared the wisest against Giorgis: Dicha broke the champions’ unbeaten eight matches run then Hawassa Ketema’s 4-1 home demolition and now a 3-0 away defeat to the Alligators that lost three nil in their earlier game against Welwalo Adigrat. It must be some curse from aback.
Though Giorgis are still in the title race currently fourth in the table with 33 points and two matches in hand that is five points from AbaJifar with 38 and second place Mekele Ketema with 35 points and two games in hand. The two sides are showing no wavering in their recent performances thus it is no easier to a record consecutive five league titles.
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