Hiwot Gebrekidan and Gebretsadik Abraha took an Ethiopian double at the Guangzhou Marathon, smashing the course records at the World Athletics Gold Label road race.
The 24-year-old Hiwot enjoyed a comfortable sole lead before 30km and wrapped up her convincing victory with a lifetime best of 2:23:50, smashing the 2:25:12 course record set by compatriot Rahma Tusa in 2017.
Hiwot and Kenya’s Celestine Chepchirchir led the pack side-by-side and when they passed 25km in 1:24:38, they were already nearly five minutes ahead of the chasers and well on track to attack the course record. Then the in-form Ethiopian broke clear from Chepchirchir and continued widening the gap until the finish.
It is Gebrekidan’s second title over the classic distance following her victory two years ago at Lake Tiberias where she achieved her previous PB of 2:25:45.
The 27-year-old Gebretsadik emerged victorious from a three-man battle in the last 10 kilometers to take the top honors in 2:08:04, which is the fastest time achieved by the former Prague and Marrakesh marathon winner since 2014. The leaders were trimmed to 10 by 25km in 1:16:11 and further cut to six after another five kilometers in 1:31:38. Gebretsadik then started his powerful charge, with only Kenya’s Mike Kiptum and Emmanuel Naibei managing to keep up with his pace by 32km.
The 27-year-old Kiptum, a 2:06:22 performer, quit the title contest before 40km. Gebretsadik waited for another kilometer to finally pull clear and never looked back before hitting home in style.
Hiwot and Gebretsadik break records in Guangzhou
Surafel and Senaf win Players of the Year award
Fasil Town and national team midfielder Surafel Dagnachew won Ethiopian Football federation Player of the Year award while Senaf Wakuma voted 2018/19 Best Women Player of the Year double accolade Phisio Yeshak Shiferaw received The Life Time Service award.
The rising star Surafel Dagnachew turned out the surprise winner for Best Player of the Year award ahead of the hot favorite Mekele star striker Amanuel G/Michael. The striker who helped Mekele win the league title scoring 18 goals Amanuel took “Top Scorers of the Year award. His team mate goalie Filhip Avono crowned Best Goalkeeper of the Year award while Gebremedin Haile received Best Coach of the Year accolade for the second year in a row.
In the women’s verse upcoming striker Senaf Wakuma claimed both the accolades; Best Player and Top Scorer of the Year awards. The fast forward striker bagged 21 goals to help Adama win its first ever Woman’s league title. Her Coach Samuel Abera and team mate Emewodesh Yergashewa named Best Coach and Best Goalie of the year respectively.
The play maker that steered Sebeta Town to promotion Getu H/Mariam crowned Best Player of Super league while ArbaMinch’s Sentayehu Mengestu and Jorge Desta of Ethiopia Medin named Top Scorer and Best Player of the Super league respectively.
The Coach who helped Sebeta Town in to promotion Kifle Boltena crowned Best Coach of the Super League ahead of Wolkite Town’s Dereje Belay and Girma Tadesse of Hadiya Hossana.
Meta Abo Brewery partners with Sebeta Ketema Football club
Meta Abo Brewery, a Diageo subsidiary, with senior executives from Sebeta Ketema Football club, announced they will be signing a contract for a sport sponsorship agreement with the football club at intercontinental hotel. At the press conference, the company’s Public Policy and Regulatory Affairs Manager Dagmawi Shewangezaw said, “the sponsorship is part of our continuous support to the Sebeta community and the growth of sport in Ethiopia.” The sponsorship is worth a total amount of 18.5 million birr throughout a four-year contract. The first-year budget is 3.5 million birr, followed by 3 million birr on second year, third year 4 million birr and 4 million birr for the final year. Each year, Meta Abo brewery will also handover different fan club items which are then going to be sold by the club to further support the Sebeta ketema Football club and the fans. The in-kind support will also continue throughout the rest of the 3 years of sponsorship and is estimated to be 4 million birr. The first phase of the sponsorship will be invested on maintenance work of the club’s playing field. Meta Abo Brewery will ensure the field is maintained properly including the earthwork excavation, fertilizer placement, seeding and grass maintenance. Meta Abo Brewery’s Public Policy and Regulatory Affairs Manager, Dagmawi, in his interview, said “As the Ethiopian Premier League has grown in popularity, we have been closely looking at the growing fan base, drive and passion that Ethiopian people have towards Football, and this is a good opportunity to support not only the Sebeta ketema Football Club but also the Ethiopian Premier League to the fulfillment and Joy of passionate supporters all over the country.”
The Sebeta Ketema Football Club Super Intendant, Behanu Bekele, said “the support of Meta Abo Brewery S.C. came just at the right time and, we believe, the sponsorship will help the team to grow and become a contender to the premier league title.” Meta beer is one of the most iconic brands in Ethiopia with great history and deep heritage around the Sebeta community. For years, the relationship the brand built with the community and the different community projects to give back to the society is something Meta is very proud of. The Water for Life project that provides clean water for all living around the brewery, the community School class room expansion, the road construction around the brewery and the shed construction to support the youth are some of the projects that are helping the brewery to further strength partnership with the community. The first phase of the renovation of the Club’s stadium has already started this month and is scheduled to be completed within two months.
Buckle up
Despite fewer vehicles in the road (about one million) road traffic accidents are the cause of significant loss of human and economic resources in Ethiopia. The Ministry of Transport with other partners held a month long awareness creation in different parts of the country to lower traffic related accidents. Yesterday, December 7, in the presence of Deputy Prime Minister Demeke Mekonen and Minister of Transport Dagmawit Moges (L), the Ministry held discussion with various stake holders on how to tackle the grave problem at the United Nation Conference Center.
