Ethiopian national team captain and premier league former champion Shimeles Bekele Goda who played in four different countries and three Ethiopian premier league sides over the course of more than fifteen years retired from international matches.
Though Shimeles, currently much involved in orchestrating the Army side-Mechal midfield, he called time on his Waliyas career which has spanned 15 years and earned him 81 caps.
Best known for his dribbling skills,ong through passes and pin point crosses, the
midfield wizard Shi.eles was regarded as one of the best players in Ethiopia in his prime. Shimeles first came into prominence with his home town club Hawassa Ketema. Two years with Hawassa he moved to Ethiopia’s biggest and most successful club Kidus Giorgis where he won the premier league title.
Among the very first to move to international soccer Shimeles’ international soccer adventure started with Ihad Tripoli of Libya followed by Sudanese AlMerrikh and finally to Egypt where he stayed for ten years playing to Petro-Jet, El-Goura, Miser Lel Mekkasa and ENPPI FC. Ten years on the move and international adventure, the diminutive playmaker returned home to join premier league title aspiring Mechal as one of the highest paid players in the country.
with 13 years and 81 caps under his belt Shimeles featured in two Nations Cup final including the historic 2010 South African Nations cup final where Ethiopia returned to the stage after 31 years absence.
“Football has given me some of the best moments of my life and South African Cup final qualification stands towering above all” remarked the 34 year old who managed to built one of the biggest buildings in Hawassa town.
“I would like to thank all the coaches I have worked under, all the players I played alongside and all Ethiopian football fans for their monumental support” remarked Shimeles.
An official source disclosed Omega Garment is to organize a huge Bon Voyage exhibition match in honor of Shimeles. Southern region selection the likes of Degu Debebe, Mulugeta Meheret, Adane Girma and Abebaw Butako against the rest of Ethiopia that comprised Salhadin Said, Oumed Oukri and Dawit Estifanos.
