World indoor champion Samuel Tefera clocked a 3:35.57 world lead in the 1500m to highlight the Orlen Copernicus Cup in Torun, Poland, the third stop on the 2019 IAAF World Indoor Tour, last Wednesday.
The 19-year-old Ethiopian Samuel Tefera shot to the front from the gun, running in the shadow of the pacesetter but for most of the first 1200 meters along with fellow Ethiopian Aman Wote and Polish record holder Marcin Lewandowski. Though the Pole moved up second with two laps to go Samuel stood strong till last crossing the line in 3:35.57.
The women’s 800m was billed as an assault on Ajee Wilson’s 1:59.26 world lead, and more specifically for Laura Muir, on the 1:58.43 British record held by Jenny Meadows since the 2010 World Indoor Championships. The race may have fallen a little short on those counts, but wasn’t bereft of drama.
Habitam Alemu, the fourth place finisher at last year’s World Indoor Championships won the Women’s 800 meter which was billed as an assault on Ajee Wilson’s 1:59.26 world lead. The race may have failed a little short on those accounts but Habitam who stayed strong from the gun, choose to run close to the pacesetter. Muir pressed the race to the limit but Habitam held firm, fighting off the Briton’s challenge over the waning meters and through to the line clocking 1:59.49, just 0.01 ahead of Muir. Both were rewarded with personal bests.
Samuel Tefera clocks 3:35.57 world lead in Torun
Dereje Belay inspired Wolkite tops Super League group “B”
Dereje Belay appears to be playing the role of Prophet Muse in guiding Wolkite to the Dream Land of Ethiopian Premier League. Wolkite is currently leading the Super League Group “B” with 21 points from eight matches.
If all goes well and Wolkite makes it in to the upper tier, the former Ethiopian national team and Defense Force defender will make history as the second Coach to lead Super League sides to promotion next to Mekonen W/Yohannes.
Taking into consideration Dereje’s strong stand about fierce discipline, players’ handling and reading game plans, Wolkite’s dream of having a representative in the country’s biggest football stages appears to be realistic. A narrow 1-0 home win over title contender Hambericho Durame, and a game in hand, Wolkite is leading in comfort with 21 points followed by Ethiopia Medin second with 19 points from nine matches.
It is not only about winning games but Dereje who led Sebeta and Jimma AbaBuna to promotion in previous seasons is much praised for building a strong team, developing chemistry, and communicating well with club officials. “I admire him for his dedication and focus on his team from the very start of scouting up to building and inspiring his squad to rise to the occasion,” a long time friend suggested. “A no nonsense defender as a player, he can easily motivate the players to win each and every game,” he added.
Ethiopia Medin is second on the table with 19 points from nine matches followed by ECASC, with 18 and Hambericho fourth collecting 17 points. Wolkite next plays bottom of the table Yeka sub City. That team has only one point.
Gebremedin Haile Mekele flying high
Four star general Amanuel G/Kidan is emerging as a strong contender for the season’s top scorer award, Mekele is riding high to challenge the heavy weights at the top of the league table. In top form Mekele is currently second on the roster in goal differences with the Saints each collecting 26 points, but Mekele has two games in hand.
With six wins and three draws in the past nine matches including victories over Hawassa, Ethiopia Bunna and Fasil respectively, Coach Gebremedin Haile appears in full battle gear to retain the league title. Many suggested a mistake was made when Gebremedin left to play international fixtures to defending champion Jimma AbaJifar. However, Gebre has proven his critics wrong by working miracles with Mekele catching up with the title contenders even before the end of the first round. Instead of headaches over a chaotic situation, AbaJifar, Gebremedin have boldly moved to Mekele to build a strong squad considered by many the most balanced side. They boast a merciless strike force that has bagged 18 goals so far and a disciplined defensive line conceding only eight goals.
The home adventure where they demolished Mekelakeya 5-2, with Ammanuel bagging four followed by a 1-0 victory over Fasil on Thursday, the team’s consistency in the past nine outings makes Mekele appear capable of mounting a strong title contention. If the far dream comes true at the end of the season, the former popular player with the Ethiopian national team and Saint George, Gebremedin will have a place in Football’s history book as the first back to back Premier League champion.
Ethiopia Bunna disappointed by results
Club supporters are turning their back on their beloved club following three consecutive defeats, the silence of the club’s Commander Fekade Mamo and the current chaotic situation under French Coach Didier Gomes have made supporters so angry they turned their backs and called out names when the club hosted Debub Police.
The big bosses may not consider the situation to be hazardous. But the diehard supporters went crazy enough to call for someone’s head to roll, in particular Coach Dider Gomes. Nevertheless, both officials have been silent during the three game losing streak. The team has falling from the lead to fifth place in just two weeks and already some are saying Gomez or Board Chair Fekade should be fired.
Bunna has played boring, uninspired football and the messages from the administration have been mixed. On one hand Fekade said management is confident in their French coach but then, after the three losses Gomez submitted his resignation. The Board put his request on hold until the next General Assembly. The resignation request is not timely and is not the answer to the chaos. There needs to be a serious discussion to tackle problems including Gomez’s presence. “The players are not competent enough to don “The Brown Shirts”, remarked Lakew Assefa while his friend Demes added they all are trademarks of Didier’s incompetency.
