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Unbeaten Violets on top of Women’s league

Michael Samson
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Unbeaten Violets on top of Women’s league

Six weeks into Ethiopian Women new season, HawasaKetema takes the driver’s seat a point clear of title favorite Ethiopia NegedBank. A hat trick against Diredawa and a quadruple over Arbaminch, Hawasa’s emerging goal hunter MesayTemesgen is leading the top scorers’ chart bagging eight goals.

Well it may not be surprising that the three time former champions posed clear favorite to their fourth crown for they are in command of the best of talents the country produced. First ever Ethiopian women international footballer LozaAberra, the country’s best dribbler Bertukan G/Kristos, team skipper RehimaZergaw, and four championship crown under her belt SenaietBogale are of the few to mention. Six wins out of six including the forfeit against Mekelakeya, “The Violets” are on top of the league table with 18 points.

But despite their short comings, SenafWakuma led Mekelakeya, newly emerging goal hunter MesayTemesegen inspired Hawassa Ketema, GedioDilla and Ethio-Electric are struggling to mount some bravado to upset NegedBank. Following players’ mass migration defending champion AdamaKetema is among the mid table sides struggling to stand upright.

Five wins and one draw Hawassa Ketema comes second with 16 points followed by Meseret Mane’s Ethio-Electric that lost two matches against Gedo and NegedBank to seat third with 12 points. Though the forfeit against NegedBank following the serious row among players over disallowed goal is yet on appeal, the Army side is currently fourth with thirteen points from six matches.

Solomon Barega and Gudaf Tsegay on top notch

Michael Samson
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Solomon Barega and Gudaf Tsegay on top notch

On Saturday, there were some impressive distance performances in the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa. According to World Athletics’ Bob Ramsak the meet was “organized by the [Ethiopian] federation as a test of fitness for most of the country’s leading candidates for a spot on the Tokyo-bound Olympic team. About a dozen athletes were invited to compete in each event, with the goal being to narrow the selection pool to six per event prior to the next test or selection meeting.”

The highlight was the men’s 10,000, where world 5,000m silver medalist Solomon Barega ran an Ethiopian all-comers’ record of 27:58.48. Why is that performance notable for a guy with pbs of 12:48/26:49? Because it came at serious elevation — roughly 2,355 meters, or 7,726 feet (hat tip Michael Crawley). That’s 700 feet higher than Flagstaff.

Using the Race Time app (modeled on NCAA altitude conversions), 27:58 at 7,726 feet converts to 26:13 at sea level — just two seconds off Joshua Cheptegei‘s world record. That conversion isn’t perfect — it’s likely a bit generous toward an athlete like Barega, who has lived his entire life at altitude. But it’s still incredible running and yet another reason to get excited about what should be an all-time classic men’s 10,000m final in Tokyo.

The other performance of note was GudafTsegay, who won the women’s 1500 in 4:02.35, which converts to 3:51.68 on Race Time. Again, that conversion is worth taking with a grain of salt — but it’s clear Tsegay, who ran 3:54 to earn the bronze at the 2019 Worlds, remains a major obstacle in Shelby Houlihan‘s path to an Olympic medal.

 

Who are the favorites as CHAN 2021 gets underway?

admin
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Who are the favorites as CHAN 2021 gets underway?

The sixth edition of the African Nations Championship (CHAN) kicks off this weekend in Cameroon. 16 countries are competing, fielding only players who ply their trade in their respective nations’ local leagues. The first two from each group will qualify for the quarterfinals.

The race to dethrone defending champions Morocco is open. The Atlas Lions beat Nigeria 4-0 in front of a home crowd in 2018 to lift the trophy.

Even if it is difficult to assess the state of form of the teams involved, the Moroccans are among the big favorites of this edition played without Egypt, Senegal or Ivory Coast.

“It is one of the most experienced teams”, said WahanySambou, an Africanews correspondent in Senegal.

“A large part of the players of the Moroccan team (7 players in total) won the Confederation Cup with RS Berkane”, Said Sambou.

DRC and Mali eye glory

Among the contenders too is the Democratic Republic of Congo, the nation with the most titles in the competition with two successes in 2009 and 2016.

“There is serenity in the group, the spirit of work, joy and good humor. We’re doing well, we work well,” said team coach Florent Ibenge, who took over the reins of the senior team last December.

This year, we will also have to count on 2016 finalists Mali, and who are moving forward with great ambitions.

“We are going to Cameroon to look for the trophy. If we set ourselves such objectives, we give ourselves the means to do so. I think we’re capable of doing it,” said coach NouhoumDiané.

Cameroon is just as hungry

The Malian Eagles will have to leave group A which is particularly strong with the presence of Zimbabwe, Burkina Faso and hosts Cameroon, who are far from ticking all the boxes according to Sambou.

“This team does not inspire me with confidence simply because it was very disappointing during the preparation tournament for CHAN. Even the supporters are pessimistic”, Sambou said.

Except that in these times of the coronavirus pandemic, it is difficult to draw lessons from the preparation period.

In addition to The Reunification Stadium in Douala and Ahmadou Ahidjo in Yaounde, Limbe Stadium and the little jewel of 50,000-seat Japoma Stadium are the two brand new stadiums staging the continent’s second biggest championship final..

The finals will be played in the Ahmadou Ahidjo stadium on February 7th.

Free scoring Mujib Kassim leads EPL scorers’ chart

Michael Samson
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Free scoring Mujib Kassim leads EPL scorers’ chart

A braid from the spot kick over Adama Ketema on Wednesday, Fasil Ketema one man strike force Mujib Kasim took his goal tally to eleven to be in command of Betking Ethiopian premier league new season leading scorers driving seat. Ethiopia Bunna Abubaker Naser is second followed by all-time top scorers Getaneh Kebede of St George.
In superb form since the opening fixtures, Mujib Kasim managed to score in almost every game including the season’s first hatrick over Jimma AbaJifar. The hard working striker who not only netting match winning goals like his solo strike to end Hadiya Hosana’s unbeaten run a week earlier, Mujib’s unselfish personality at the goal mouth is much praised by Coach Seyoum Kebede as well his team mates.
Banging eleven out of 18 goals in just eight matches, Fasil appeared to be much dependent on the striker who helped them take top of the league table three points clear of second place Ethiopia Bunna. Coach Seyoum needs to think a second striker who could be at hand for emergency.
Bunna’s target boy Abubakar scored the second goal on Thursday’s 3-1 victory over bottom of the table AbaJifar to take his goal tally to nine in seven matches. A ball playing side with Abubaker in the front, The Brown Shirts appears to be in the right track to seriously battle for the title since more than half a dozen years. Ethiopia Bunna is second in the table with 16 points from seven matches.
Having a hat trick over AbaJifar, EPL all-time top scorer Getaneh Kebede is third with seven goals from seven outings. Veteran Salhadin Said fast recovering his old form, Abel Yalew and Gadisa Mebrate battling for a regular front spot, Getaneh appeared to have no option but scoring goals in almost every single game.

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