Sebeta Town returned to Ethiopian Premier League following the away draw with promotion contender home side Legetafo Town. “We started the season late but thanks to the support from the club’s administration and amazing motivation from the players, we managed a swift passage back to the top tier” coach Kifle Boltena told reporters after the tense away draw.
Scoring the highest number of goals (31), conceding the lowest (11), a record five clean sheet, never conceding more than a single goal and five away victories including the 4-0 demolition of Wello-Kombolcha, Sebeta promoted in sheer style without a single defeat all through the season. It is impossible to penetrate Sebeta’s solid defense line and hard to stop their counter attack. Kifle’s game plan is splitting a point in away matches while a win by all means at home. That is the secret for Sebeta’s successful season” Ethio-Electric former coach disclosed. “I believe he has learned a lot from past experiences” added the coach.
Twelve wins and nine draws, Sebeta run away with the promotion spot despite having a game in hand against 6th placed visitors Woldya Town. Strong promotion contender Legetafo already four points behind, the group stage closing fixtures takes place on Sunday where the home side is expected a red carpet reception by a grateful home supporters. “Sebeta’s fans are known for their famous home support and we are ready to win the group’s season closing fixture in front of them” remarked one of the players.
Kifle Boltena led Sebeta Town to top tier
Senaf Wakuma, Senait Bogale went to Sweden for trial
Helping Adama Town in to its first ever Ethiopian Women League championship title in the club’s history, goal machine Senaf Wakuma and midfield dynamo Senait Bogale travelled to Sweden for two weeks trial.
The 2019 women’s league season revelation Senaf is currently the much talked about women footballer winning the season’s top scorer accolade bagging 21 goals in twenty matches. Not only a goal hunter she is equally admired for her selfless assists and creating goal scoring chances for her team mates. With all that qualities under her belt, the tall and athletic with a deadly eye for goals Senaf is expected to become the first Ethiopian Women to land a professional footballer status in Sweden.
Boasting two championship titles with Dedebit before steering Adama Town to the league title this season, Senait Bogale is the second player that travelled to Sweden. Her experience and volatile character could be a plus in her trial with the Sweden first division side.
The new champion Adama Town is credited to cover travel expenses for both players who had played a major role in the club’s success of grabbing the coveted trophy. It is remembered Ethiopian Women’s league all time highest scorer Losa Abera returned home after two months trial with different Swedish teams yet failed to impress any one of them.
Solomon Barega and Tilahun Bekele hot for men’s 5000m in Lusanne
Five of this season’s six fastest men will line up in the 5000m at the Athletissima meeting in Lausanne on 5 July, eighth stop of the 2019 IAAF Diamond League. The dwell is much expected to be all Ethiopian showdowns particularly between newly introduced to international arena Tilahun Haile and World all time fourth fastest athlete Solomon Barega.
Tilahun Haile, the fastest this season at 12:52.98, will be facing stiff competition, including compatriot Solomon Barega, whom he narrowly defeated in the series’ leg in Rome, Barega clocking 12:53.04.
The field also includes Asian champion Birhanu Balew of Bahrain, Ethiopia’s reigning world champion Muktar Edris and his compatriot Abadi Hadis, who clocked 12:56.48 in that fast Rome race. Olympic silver medalist Paul Chelimo from the US and Kenyan Nicholas Kipkorir Kimeli will also be on the start line. Balew won in Lausanne last year in 13:01.09, a world at the time.
Swiss road running star Julien Wanders will be taking to the track as well, along with Henrik Ingebrigtsen of Norway.
Salwa Eid Naser will lead the field in the women’s 400m. The 21-year-old, who sped to silver at the 2017 World Championships, has already collected a series of victories in Shanghai, Rome and Rabat. She’ll face Jamaican trio Chrisann Gordon, Stephenie Ann McPherson and Shericka Williams and Courtney Okolo of the US.
Demolishing history
The 87 years old Buffet de la Gare was demolished on Saturday June 15, by the Kirkos Sub City officials. The historic place was in the process of being listed as a cultural heritage site of Addis Ababa by the city’s Culture and Tourism bureau. Famous Ethiopian jazz singers made their names in the 60s and 70s in this place. “This is destroying the history of the city, it is unacceptable, what is going to be next?” said one resident of Addis Ababa who was watching the demolition as it took place.
