Two years after joining back the higher league in place of ECWC, Ethiopia NegedBank returned to the top tier. Shashemene Ketema roared back in to the premier league after 15 years in the wilderness. Hambercho-Durame secured an automatic promotion in to the Ethiopian football elites group for the first time in its 10-years history.
Ethiopia NegedBank secured its promotion to the top tier topping group (A) with 60 points from 28 matches. Crushing SendafaBeke to 4-1 victory in the season’s final group match at Abebe Bikila stadium, NegedBank under head coach Beselot Lulseged heralded its promotion to the upper league eight points clear off runner-up Bench-Maji. Dominating the group with 18 wins, six draws and only two defeats, many are expecting NegedBank to come out stronger in the coming season.
Fourteen years since it last played at the top tier, Shashemene Ketema booked its promotion after 16 wins, 5 draws and 5 defeats. Collecting 53 points from 26 matches, the side from Oromia finished top of the group eight points clear of promotion contender Air-Force alias Nib.
Former footballer Tsegaye Agro in the hot seat, the physically dominant Shashemene had been in group (B) driver seat since the start of the second round booting down long talked about group favorite Addis Ababa Ketema. Despite having one of the most seasoned yet unsuccessful Paulos Getachew (Mango) as head coach Addis Ababa finished fifth collecting only 38 points from 26 matches.
The Higher league surprise package Hambericho-Durame joined the premier league for the first time since it’s foundations in 2014. Unbeaten throughout the league season, Hambericho secured promotion finishing top of group (C) collecting 48 points from 12 wins and twelve draws. Gelan Ketema finished second one point behind Hambericho.
It is considered the luckiest year for Hamberico for both its men and women football clubs secured passage to the top tiers. Greatful for both teams’ success, the Southern Region zone promised to handover a plot of land for each of the squad members and coaching staffs.

Israel former association footballer and manager who played for Israel U21 national team is the new Head Coach to champions Maccavi-Haifa.
Israeli football champions Maccavi Haifa announced the appointment of Ethiopian-born Messay Dego as head coach in place of Barak Bachar who left for Serbian champions Red Star Belgrade. This season, 37-year-old Dego coached the club’s youth team, which played in the group stage of the UEFA Youth League, and also led the team to win the Israeli Youth Premier League title.
His coaching career also includes five senior teams in the two top Israeli leagues, in which he did not win any titles. “It is a big challenge to lead Maccavi Haifa to further achievements,” Dego said. “Hard work awaits us.”
Bachar led the club to three Israeli Premier League titles after a decade in which the team failed to finish in first place. He also led the team to the Champions’ League group stage this season, where they faced Paris Saint-Germain, Benfica and Juventus.
Maccavi is the oldest club in Israel counting 110 years old and with its own 30000-seater stadium owned by Yakov Shahar. The 14 time Israel champions popularly known as the Greens are said to start an early season preparation ahead of next season’s European champions’ league.

Fasil City youngster, Nathnael Gebregiorgis is one of exciting young prospects in Ethiopian football. He is already looking like a mainstay with the Ethiopian national team, the ” Walyas” for the coming years.
He started his football journey at Fasil City. The No 18 has shown a great versatility under coach Ashenafi Bekele as he played just about anywhere the coach wanted him to be positioned, as a midfielder, striker and even as a right back.
In the 2017/18 season, he was promoted from Fasil City ‘s junior ranks to the main team by then Coach, Wubetu Abate.
He has improved his talent year on year and attributes this to hard work.
“Yes, I believe in hard work. I will do whatever work that my coaches give me, but I am also working hard on myself.”
“I will strive to be better in the future, and I will still learn a lot from the players who are my role models.”
He watched several top Ethiopia Stars growing up watching and while staring for the Fasil youth team and he saw some of the big stars from close quarters, especially Abdurahman Mubarek who was a big influence.
Nathnael also admires the legendary striker Getaneh Kebede, who was a big hero for St George and the Ethiopian national team.
Kebede is still one of the top Strikers in the BetKing Ethiopia Premier League and currently second top scorer.
He is also a huge fan of global superstar, Cristiano Ronaldo.
However, his heart beats for his Club, Fasil City.
“I love this club because I see it as a family. I have learned a lot from Fasil City. It is a club that means a lot to me. I am very happy with the team.”
He has already won a League title with the Emperors in 2020/21 season, and they came close last season , losing narrowly to St George and finished 2nd. He also dreams of success on continental level.
“We have won the league once and I plan to win the Premier League title several times in the future. I want to make history in the African Clubs competition by making a better journey than we have had so far.”
Nathnael remembers his debut in the African Champions League. “I did not travel with the team in the previous trip to Tunisia, in last season, but when we traveled to Sudan for Africa Champions League, I then traveled to Khartoum as a member of the squad.”
“When we went to Khartoum for the second leg after we drew 2-2 at home, I played as a substitute in that away tie. It was a historic moment for me. I am happy that it was my first African stage participation.”
“It made me feel like I’m stepping up a notch. It was a great experience. It boosted my confidence. Besides, I didn’t feel scared when all those fans were screaming.”
“I am confident when I enter the field, no matter my opponent is, I’m not scared”
Fasil City may not be challenging for the title this season but when they face the Champions, they play for pride. They beat St George on the first-round match of the League, but they lost in the second-round meeting between both sides.
“It’s a football battle for us and we are not afraid to face anyone in the league, especially St George.
“We went into the game against St George thinking we will win but we lost, and we accepted it because we knew we didn’t take advantage of the opportunities we got without having a distinct superiority in the game.”
“On the whole, our season has been frustrating. There is anger inside. We will do our best to win the next games and improve our level”
The team is struggling this year and they even made changes on coaching staff.
Many fans are angry with the team’s results and recent performances, but Nathnael thinks the team is improving.
“Yes, there is a change. From now on, we need the points we get from each game, we must fight in the games we have, and we fight for ourselves. Even if there is a change after the arrival of Coach Ashenafi Kebede, we have to strive better to lift Fasil City.”
The Emperors plans on the remaining matches was broken down by Nathnael.
“We have to win the next games and raise our level. I can’t say that we will bring this result and how we will finish the season, but I believe that we will do our best in the future.”
Nathnael Gebregiorgis has been fortunate to train under some of the best Coaches with their different styles. He said that all they left a legacy on him.
“The coach who trained me when I was in the youth team, including Girmay Kiros, who included me and promoted five players to the main team, Coach Wubetu Abate, Coach Seyum Kebede with whom he won the League title.”
“There is also Coaches Hailu Negash, Tigana and Coach Asewen Bekele. I thank everyone of them who contributed to my growth and development.”

Faith Kipyegon set a new 1500m world record in the Florence Diamond League meeting on Friday, with Britain’s Laura Muir a distant second.
Muir was 10 metres behind Kenya’s reigning world and Olympic champion, 29, heading into the final lap.
And Kipyegon streaked clear to win in 3 minutes 49.11 seconds, breaking the 3:50 barrier for the first time, while Muir ran a season’s best of 3:57.09.
Ethiopia’s Genzebe Dibaba set the previous record of 3:50.07 in 2015.
Ireland’s Ciara Mageean also ran a season’s best time as she finished fourth in 4:00.95.
Kipyegon has won both world and Olympic gold on two occasions but this is the first time she has broken the world record.
She now holds the first and third fastest times in history, running her previous best of 3:50.37 last August.
Former 200m world champion Dina Asher-Smith had to pull out of the women’s 100m moments before the race after suffering from cramp in the blocks.
“Other than that all good, but I didn’t want to risk anything today,” she said on social media.
“Frustrated as I was so excited to race, but had to make a sensible call for the bigger picture.”
Fellow Briton Imani-Lara Lansiquot finished third in 11.16secs, behind Marie-Josee Ta Lou of the Ivory Coast (10.97) and Germany’s Gina Lueckenkemper (11.09).
World champion Fred Kerley was again denied a meeting with Olympic champion Lamont Marcell Jacobs in the men’s 100m as the Italian had not recovered from the back problem that forced him out of last Sunday’s Diamond League meet in Rabat.
Kerley remains unbeaten this season, winning in 9.94 from Kenya’s Ferdinand Omanyala (10.05) and fellow American Trayvon Bromell (10.09).
Meanwhile, Erriyon Knighton breezed to victory in the men’s 200m with a season’s best of 19.89.
The 19-year-old American, who holds the under-18 and under-20 world records, finished well clear of Trinidad and Tobago’s Jereem Richards (20.28) and Aaron Brown of Canada (20.31).