Monday, May 25, 2026

Kassaye under pressure following the humiliating 4-1 derby defeat

The 4-1 demolition at the hands of bitter rival St George, Ethiopia Bunna supporters are seriously questioning whether 120,000 Birr a month Kassaye Arage is the right person to bring back the old glory days.
In addition to the aggregate two-leg Confederation Cup defeat to Sudanese side AlHilal, a 3-1City Cup tournament opening defeat to Bahirdar, followed by a 2-1 loss to Sebeta and a 1-0 narrow win over Addis Ababa Ketema, many speculated Ethiopia Bunna has no chance to be among the title contenders.
In the new league season first derby match, Kassaye’s squad was far lower than fans expectations not only in the humiliating defeat but also with nothing to show as a team ready to do battle. Even last season’s most valuable player in the league Abubaker Naser could do nothing except running around to no avail.
A single win in past seven matches including the two leg Confederation Cup qualifications matches, conceding seven goals while scoring only three, Kassaye’s statements to build a strong squad capable of winning the league title appeared a daydream.
A disorganized defense, a sloppy midfield and disarrayed strike force, Kassaye appears just half way into building his squad. “The 4-1 defeat is the beginning of the end of Kassaye’s era at Ethiopia Bunna,” a fan remarked after the humiliating derby defeat. “Kassaye’s game plan of ball possession is nothing but a fake bravado story,” the fan added.
Considering the recent seven matches including the City Cup tournament, Kassaye’s game plan of ball possession is nothing but a fake bravado story.
The 4-1 demolition against St George showed that Ethiopia Bunna is hardly in a class against the title contenders. “It is a physically weak side and hardly functioning as a team. Football is not just about passing balls around but a win,” a much disappointed club supporter suggested.
The club’s patriarch Lieutenant Fekade Mamo is monitoring situations from Kassaye’s strong support base, Ethiopia Bunna Supporters’ Association is said to cook something following this shaky form.

Hot this week

Production up, but the ‘cost’ variable weighs heavily

Production is up in 2021 for the Italian agricultural...

Luminos Fund’s catch-up education programs in Ethiopia recognized

The Luminos Fund has been named a top 10...

Well-planned cities essential for a resilient future in Africa concludes the World Urban Forum

The World Urban Forum (WUF) concluded today with a...

Private sector deemed key to unlocking AfCFTA potential

The private sector’s role is vital to fully unlock...

NBE eases LC rules, caps fees in FX reform push

The National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE) has revised its...

Elon Musk’s SpaceX plans for biggest IPO in history to shake Wall Street

SpaceX’s IPO filing – the biggest in history -...

COP 31 President urges world to switch on to electrification

COP31 President-Designate Murat Kurum called for an urgent increase...

Ethiopia sets course for a decade of capital market reform

The Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), the Ethiopian Capital...

UNESCO honors Sudanese journalists syndicate with 2026 World Press Freedom Prize

The UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize 2026 was...

Abdoulaye Ndiaye, winner of the first edition of the Africa NextGen Economist Prize

The Africa NextGen Economist Prize, created by Jeune Afrique...

Africa Day must mean Africa’s empowerment

Africa Day should be more than a ceremonial date...
spot_img

Related Articles

Popular Categories

spot_imgspot_img