Twelve days after his lap-counting error in the 5000m at the IAAF Diamond League meeting in Lausanne, Hagos Gebrhiwet made no mistake in Hengelo on Wednesday, winning the men’s 10,000m in a world-leading 26:48.95. The women’s 10,000m, won by Letesenbet Gidey, was of a similarly high standard with the first 10 women – nine of whom are from Ethiopia. Previously unheralded Lemecha Girma made a huge breakthrough to win the men’s 3000m steeplechase in 8:08.18, winning by six seconds and moving to fourth on the Ethiopian all-time list. World U20 champion Diribe Welteji won the women’s 800m in 2:00.51.
The races doubled as the official Ethiopian trial races for the IAAF World Athletics Championships Doha 2019. And, based on tonight’s results, Ethiopia will field two strong trios for the men’s and women’s 10,000m in Doha.
When Yomif Kejelcha made his move at the bell and started his 400-metre kick for home, Solomon and Hagos went with him and moved past him with half a lap remaining. The two kicked hard down the final straight but Hagos proved to be the stronger in the closing stages, winning in 26:48.95. Solomon Barega, competing in just his second 10,000m race, finished second in 26:49.46, moving to second on the world U20 all-time list. Yomif Kejelcha was third in 26:49.99, the second-fastest debut 10,000m in history behind Eliud Kipchoge’s 26:49.02.
Like the top finishers in the men’s race, Letsenbet Gidey bided her time in the women’s contest before making a move in the final kilometer.
Letesenbet’s superior speed enabled her to pull away from her compatriot over the final 300 meters and she went on to win in a lifetime best of 30:37.89. Nestanet followed three seconds later in 30:40.85. Senbere was third in 30:45.14 with Zeineba Yimer taking fourth place in 30:46.24.
Hagos, Letesenbet, Lemecha shine in Henglo
Ethiopia meets Madagascar in hard qualification
Ethiopia drew in group (K) along with former two time champions Ivory Coast, 2019 Egypt Cup final surprise package quarter finalist Madagascar and Niger. With the Elephants stand as favorites to win the group, Ethiopia appears to have humble adversaries (Madagascar and Niger) to contend for the runner-up spot.
Algeria who meets Senegal on Friday in the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations final in Cairo, must travel virtually the length of the continent for all their matches in the 2021 qualifying campaign. The Desert Foxes were drawn to play in Group H alongside three southern African teams, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Botswana.
Senegal, Algeria’s opponents in Friday’s final, will feature in Group I against Congo Brazzaville, Guinea-Bissau and eSwatini formerly Swaziland. Nigeria, who beat Tunisia 1-0 on Wednesday in the third place play-off, will meet fellow west African nations Benin and Sierra Leone plus Lesotho.
Ghana and South Africa are in Group C and both should qualify at the expense of Sudan and the winners of a preliminary round tie between Mauritius and Sao Tome e Principe. Although automatic qualifiers as hosts, Cameroon will take part to gain competitive match practice, leaving Cape Verde, Mozambique and Rwanda to contest the other Group F place.
Uganda, the strongest of the east African nations at the 2019 tournament, are with Burkina Faso, Malawi and South Sudan or the Seychelles in Group B. The four preliminary ties will be played in October and the group phase kicks off the following month with two rounds.
The winners and runners-up will qualify from each group except in Group F where Cameroon automatically qualify as hosts with the highest placed of the other three teams.
Groups:
Mali, Guinea, Namibia, Liberia/Chad
Burkina Faso, Uganda, Malawi, South Sudan/Seychelles
Ghana, South Africa, Sudan, Mauritius/Sao Tome
Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Angola, Djibouti/Gambia
Morocco, Mauritania, Central African Republic, Burundi
Cameroon (hosts), Cape Verde, Mozambique, Rwanda
Egypt, Kenya, Togo, Comoros
Algeria, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana
Senegal, Congo Brazzaville, Guinea-Bissau, eSwatini (formerly Swaziland)
Tunisia, Libya, Tanzania, Equatorial Guinea
Ivory Coast, Niger, Madagascar, Ethiopia
Nigeria, Benin, Sierra Leone, Lesotho
Degarege replaces Derege at newly promoted Wolkite
Seeing off promotion wizard Derege Belayneh, premier league new comer Wolkite Town appointed Degarege Yigzaw to the hot seat. ” You are yet to see new developments for the coming new season” Wolkite Town sport officials announced at a dinner reception to celebrate the huge achievements of steering the side in to the top tier for the first time in the club’s history.
Though Derege was expected to sign a new contract, the former Baherdar Town and Amhara Water Works Construction Coach Degarege Yigzaw popped out of the blue to take over the hot seat to lead Wolkite at the upper tier in the coming Ethiopian Premier League season.
Helping three Super League sides Sebeta, AbaJifar and Wolkite, Derege nicknamed “The Colonel” for being tough disciplinarian was much expected to stay in command his successful squad. But with no official explanation coming out of the club, Derege left quietly to look for a new adventure at the Super League next season.
Some suggested that Derege’s decision to part ways with Wolkite is very right for he is not good a smart player in the cut throat intrigues filled top tier. “Derege is an advocate of freedom to work and no interferences from club officials. His time at the Army Club helped him shape his personality” his old mate at Defense Force club remarked.
On the other hand critics suggested Degarege’s appointment is not fair for Derege deserve the place having vast experience as Coach as well a player. “Having no experience as player or a coach at a higher stage, newly appointed Degarege is likely to face a huge challenge to take the side in to the next stage. “I am in a very much doubt whether he could survive his first season at the premier league,” one critic commented.
ADP, TPLF fight will create chaos: Politicians
Statements from the executive bodies of the Amhara Democratic Party (ADP) and Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) clearly shows they are not interested in working together like they did for the past 27 years.
Like rivals both insulted, criticized and undermined each other in statements that brought about negative responses from many academicians and political groups.
TPLF’s statement heavily criticizing ADP said the party failed to secure regional peace and security. It went on to say that they hosted parasite groups working to destabilize the nation.
The statement listed seven points asking EPRDF to allow independent investigators to look into the groups behind the assassination of the late Commander in Chief of the army General Seare Mekonen and his friend.
The statement also asked ADP to apologize to the Ethiopian people for creating a lax security environment which failed to protect the ADP leaders, Ambachew Mekonen and Ezez Wasse, and Migbaru Kebede.
TPLF also asked EPRDF what the schedule and plan is for next year election.
TPLF slammed EPRDF for failing the nation’s security.
“Working with the groups who are devoted to federalism is the number one priority of the party and the party will fully collaborate in bringing peace,’’ the TPLF statement reads.
TPLF also said that the Sidama people’s request for the establishment of their own state should be handled rightly in accordance with the constitution.
ADP responded strongly to the TPLF statement saying “TPLF is the one who caused the country to have a nasty political situation.”
“TPLF is the one that bit the country and put us in trouble and it is the one who barked as if it was pure behind every problem. If the party was standing for justice it would have extradited the criminals who hide in Tigray, who are alleged of committing crimes against the Ethiopian people. But instead it is collaborating with the groups who are working to disturb the county and the region,” reads the ADP statement.
Professor Merera Gudina leader of the Oromo Federalist Congress told Capital that both parties bitter rivalry is the result of different views of reform and old hidden attitude not cooperating to work toward common goals.
“It is not surprising. Because it was in their mind and what happens now. They both rule the nation and should bring a solution before undermining each other not give us bread instead it will get us into trouble. EPRDF as a party should bring other parties who work for good democracy and must make a national consensus to give a better light to our country.”
Benyam G/Hanna, a political science graduate from Addis Ababa University says the dispute between ADP and TPLF is the result of conspiracy theories in the EPRDF house.
“We don’t know the real game in the country, there are games being played in the ruling party which are filled by a hidden agenda and this has cost us lives. One group is trying to hold the full power and public acceptance by making conspiracies and if the party does not come with a genuine agreement our country will be submerged into great chaos and disorder.’’
Professor Beyene Petros, Ethiopia Social-Democratic Party (ESDP) Chairman sees both party statements as childish. They do not address the country’s real problems.
“If there is a problem among parties they must sit and come with a solution but they are not doing that. Instead, they are giving statements which undermine the Ethiopian people. What is needed is a solution, what we need is someone who to give us hope and stopping us from getting in trouble,’’ he said.
Kinfemicheal Debebe (Abebe Kesto) who was member of the Ethiopian Democratic Party and the Unity for Democracy and Justice (UDJP) and was released from prison last year said that TPLF can’t blame ADP for the murder of the Amhara Region’s leaders.
“Security is a huge issue. Decades ago Kinfe G/Medhin was assassinated and ADP did not blame TPLF, when Haylom Araya was killed ADP did not say TPLF was getting the country into trouble. What TPLF said is a very bizarre opinion to me. Any how’s the real thing that EPRDF should do now is looking inside itself not wasting time on undermining one another which bring us nothing for us,’’ he added .
