DStv Ethiopia in partnership with SuperSport and BetKing has officially acquired exclusive rights to broadcast Ethiopian Premier League matches. The signing agreement between DStv and Ethiopian Premier League Share Company was conducted on Friday December 4, 2020 at the Sheraton Addis in the presence of various dignitaries. The agreement was signed by Ethiopian Premier League chairman Fekade Mamo and MultiChoice Ethiopia CEO, Gelila G.Michael.
The Ethiopian Premier League is the top association football division in Ethiopia, and comprises 16 clubs. Broadcasts of the Ethiopian Premier League will be carried across the entire territory of sub-Saharan Africa and the adjacent islands, where the appetite for soccer is substantial.
SuperSport will produce the broadcasts, alongside the empowerment of local production staff. SuperSport’s holistic approach to developing local leagues has seen those leagues grow from strength to strength and the Ethiopian Premier League will no doubt benefit from having a partner of the stature and expertise of SuperSport as it looks to the future.
MultiChoice Group is the parent company of MultiChoice South Africa (including SuperSport, M-Net and DStv Media Sales), MultiChoice Africa Holdings, Showmax Africa and Irdeto.
SuperSport is Africa’s premier sports broadcaster, producing and broadcasting local and international sport for pay-TV subscribers across sub-Saharan Africa. SuperSport channels broadcast most of the globe’s major sporting events and leagues including football, rugby, cricket, tennis, golf, motorsport, cycling, boxing, wrestling and athletics.
The Ethiopian Premier League Share Company was established a year ago to administer league competition and generate revenue.
SuperSport adds Ethiopia to its portfolio of soccer properties
Ethiopian Premier League new season set for December
2020/21 Ethiopian premier league new season schedule came official with Ethiopia Bunna taking a head on season opening clash against reigning champion Mekele SabaEnderta while knock out holders Fasil Ketema travelling to Oromia to face home side Sebeta Ketema.
After eight months layoffs due to Covid19 epidemic, Ethiopian premier league new season kicks off mid-December bringing together 16 teams from five regions including Addis Ababa and Diredawa. With four representatives Debub Regional state stands tall while Tigray region brings three sides. Two sides each from the Capital Addis and Amahara while Deredawa the lonely side from Eastern Ethiopia.
Though the first five rounds scheduled to take place at Addis Ababa stadium, home sides St George and Bunna have little benefit to exploit for all matches to be staged behind closed doors.
In the season opening weekend under newly appointed Coach Abraham Mebratu Sebeta Ketema faces strong side Fasil Ketema while the only side that boasts a foreign boss, St George hosts Wokite Ketema.
There are two fixtures that bring heavy derby matches: Wolayta Dicha against Hadiya–Hosana and Oromia derby between Jimma AbaJifar and Adama Ketema.
The opening weekend biggest fixture is between popular side Ethiopia Bunna and reigning champion Mekele SabaEnderta.
Considered one of the strong defensive sides Baherdar Ketema versus Sehul Shere, Welwalo Adigrat against diehard Sidama Bunna and Hawasa encountering Diredawa Ketema are the other matches on the opening weekend.
Addis Ababa staging the first five rounds the second five rounds will take place in Jimma then the remaining five in Baherdar.
Uganda won Cecafa U-20 Afcon championship
The .Uganda U20 national team has emerged as the winners for the 2020 Cecafa Championship after beating Tanzania 4-1 at the Black Rhino Academy in Arusha on Wednesday.
The Hippos got the goals from Richard Basangwa, Steven Sserwada, Ivan Bogere and Kenneth Semakule while the immediate former champions scored their only goal via Abdul Suleiman.
Uganda looked a dominant side all through the game and got the opener in the 12th minute from Basangwa’s strike. The Ngorongoro Heroes fought back and equalized at the half-hour mark from Suleiman’s effort before Sserwada scored the second for Uganda in the 44th minute.
The Hippos came from the half-time break more determined to bag the title and deservedly added the third goal in the 61st minute through Bogere. Semakule scored the final goal in the 72nd minute to seal Uganda’s victory against the hosts.
Both Uganda and Tanzania sailed to the final lap without losing a match, setting the stage for what was expected to be an epic final game in Arusha.
Meanwhile, Kenya were defeated in the third-place playoffs by South Sudan when they went down 2-1 at the same venue.
It was the second loss the Rising Stars registered in the tournament after Uganda had beaten them 3-1 in the first semi-final.
South Sudan went ahead in the second minute courtesy of Phillip Biajo’s goal but Stanley Okumbi’s side fought and equalized in the 10th minute when Nicholas Ochieng found the back of the net.
Nelson Elia scored five minutes prior to the half-time break to give South Sudan the lead yet again and Rising Stars’ concerted efforts in the second half were not able to help them level matters.
The result posted by Kenya was not well-received by the former Gor Mahia national treasurer Sally Bollo.
Ethio-Electric, Mekelakeya potted in the same group of Super League new season
The 36 teams in three groups Ethiopian Super League 2021 new season schedule was announced with former top tier sides Ethio-Electric and Mekelakeya potted in the same group that is considered the death group for bringing together strong sides including Legetafo and Woldeya Ketema.
Yohannes Sahle at the helm and signing number of senior players, Mekelakeya is in a strong build up to return to the top tier this season. Of course Kifle Boltena the new Ethio-Electric boss with an impressive resume including the promotion of Air Force and Sebeta Ketema is back in to the picture joining the former champions in a one year contract. Though the promotion battle appears to be between the two giants, last season strong side Legetafo and Woldya ketema are potential rivals to rattle the group.
Former Premier League sides Ethiopia Medin and Debub Police paired in group two along with Arbaminch, Batu Ketema and Negele-Arsi. Having the upper tier experience is believed to be a plus for the two sides therefore Ethiopia Medin and Debub Police are considered the two heavy weights likely to battle for promotion.
Former top flight Jimma AbaBuna appeared the side that is capable of dominating the group. Signing number of new faces in the past six weeks, Addis Ababa, Nekemet Ketema, WolaytaSodo, Akaki Ketema and Shashemene appeared to have strong potential to mount serious challenges.
Though the actual kickoff date is not yet official, the three venues for the first round already set. Group one first round fixtures will be held at Batu stadium while group two and group three will have their games at Hawassa and Jimma stadiums respectively.
The second round fixtures will be staged at Adama, Sodo and Nekemet stadiums.
