The Ethiopian Olympic Committee (EOC) identified Hawassa as the training location for the Ethiopian athletics team preparing for the upcoming Tokyo Olympics.
The EOC started preparations for the upcoming Tokyo Olympics eight months ago. Upon completion of its first round of training, the committee decided to relocate its training location outside the capital.
Recently, EOC, in collaboration with the Ethiopian Athletics Federation (EAF), coaches of various disciplines, athletes and medical professionals held a sight visit and conducted identification of convenient training locations in preparation for the second round of training.
The team visited Hawassa and Shashemene. Muktar Kedir, who is a World Athletics Champion two consecutive times and the only race-walking athlete, Yewhalaye Beletew, were among the individuals who were engaged in the sight visit.
Former athlete Haile Gebresilassie and other professionals emphasized that since the capital is being polluted by vehicles and industries, the weather condition is not at its best to serve as a training site.
Considering this and other facts, the decision to relocate the training area out of Addis was commended by many. However, a professional whom The Reporter approached said even though Hawassa is convenient for track racing due to its low altitude, its humidity might impact athletes negatively.
To tackle this challenge, he suggested stationing the athletes in Hagere Selam (a town close by Hawassa city) and bringing them to Hawassa to conduct track racing trainings.
Ethiopian Olympic Committee unveils new training location
South Africa’s Motsepe elected New president of CAF
The ninth richest man in Africa, owner to 2016 CAF Champion Mamelodi Sundowns with a personal wealth estimated at $2.9 billion (2.4 billion euros), Patrice Motsepe was confirmed as Confederation of African Football (CAF) president in Rabat Friday and pleaded for unity as he seeks to fix the troubled organization.
Africa has suffered serious setbacks in recent years with all five qualifiers for the 2018 World Cup in Russia eliminated after the first round the continent’s worst showing in 36 years.
Last November, Malagasy Ahmad Ahmad became the first CAF president to be banned by FIFA, with a five-year suspension for “governance issues” cut to two after appealing to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Just a few weeks ago, the 59 year-old Motsepe, Ivorian Jacques Anouma, Mauritanian Ahmed Yahya and Senegalese Augustin Senghor were locked in an intriguing struggle for the presidency.
But FIFA-brokered meetings of the contenders in Morocco and Mauritania led to mining magnate Motsepe becoming the sole candidate. Senghor and Yahya were given the first and second vice-president roles.
Anouma, who initially declared the pact “undemocratic”, is a former FIFA executive committee member and becomes a special advisor to Motsepe.
The first Anglophone President in the 64-year history of CAF, Motsepe will be assisted by Augustine Senghor of Senegal (1st Vice President), Ahmed Yaheya of Libya (2nd Vice President) and Djibouti’s Souleman Waberi (3rd Vice President).
Waliyas in CAF qualification final showdowns buildup
National head coach Wubetu Abate called a 25 players squad to camp ahead of African nations qualification campaign crucial double encounter against Madagascar and Ivory Coast. Hottest favorite to top group “K” Ivory Coast leads the group with seven points followed by surprise package Madagascar in goal difference while Ethiopia a point behind stands third followed by bottom of the table Niger with three points.
Away defeat to Niger followed by a 3-0 home thrashing return leg, Wubetu has called his squad for the final showdowns to be held in four days difference. The second leg faceoff against Madagascar takes place on 17th march followed by the qualification closing match away to Ivory Coast.
The showdown against second place Madagascar at Baherdar Stadium is a must win situation for Wubetu in order to tighten his belt for the qualification away final match against Ivory Coast. Let alone a home defeat a draw against the physical side Madagascar would seriously jeopardize Ethiopian qualification hope while an advantage for the visitors that has their qualification final match would take place in Antananarivo against bottom table Niger.
Though things appeared a high hill to mount for Wubetu and his squad considering the final match against mighty Ivory Coast which led to a humiliating 2-1 defeat in Addis Ababa, Waliya’s boss stated they are not only striving for qualification but also for a place in Ethiopian Football history through making it to the cup final to be held in Cameroon.
The home showdown against visitors Madagascar takes place on 24th march and away to Ivory Coast on 30th, 2021.
