The 21st week EPL fixtures brought a festive moment to Addis Ababa football fans featuring the highest ever goal tally so far in the season. Despite the postponement of two matches: Saint George visiting Hawassa and Debub Police versus Wolayta Dicha due to public unrest, a record 21 goals found the back of the net in six matches.
It was an early Easter festival for Ethiopia Coffee supporters following a 5-0 demolition over strong side Baherdar Town. Never to concede more than two goals so far in the season, Hussein Shabani twice on target, a double from Abubaker and Eyasu Tameru and Alex Amuzu’s own goal “The Brown Shirts” went home in a huge celebration with Ethiopia Coffee frog leaped three steps to sit 6th in the table bagging 32 points.
Fasil Town supporters were never happier in their away matches following the 4-0 slaughtering of Mekelakeya at Addis Ababa Stadium. Efrem Alemu opened the account early in the game followed by a marvelous header from Ezuka Azu and an own goal from Alemeneh Girma. Azuka hammered the final nail over the coffin eleven minutes before the final whistle gone. Conceding 41 goals so far in the season, “The Army” side appeared destined to relegation while Fasil claimed back runner-up spot eight points behind Mekele Town.
The Sidama Coffee versus Sehul-Shere encounter in Hawassa was also a fascinating match that produced five goals after Sidama’s 3-2 home victory. Back in to business Addis Gedey fired in twice with the third from Dawit Tefera. Salif Fofana’s double hardly to help victory for the visitors.
League leaders Mekele 70 Enderta defeated visitors Adama 2-1while Diredawa Town got away with same 2-1 victory.
An average 3.5 goals per game is sure something to celebrate considering the goal draught hit fixtures in some only ten goals from eight encounters.
Ethiopia Coffee in goal fiesta
Kenenisa greatest athlete the world has ever seen
TTwenty one months before, on Sunday the 25th of September, 2017, Kenenisa Bekele proved why he is one of the greatest runners the world has ever seen. The Ethiopian 5,000m and 10,000m world record holder became the second fastest marathoner ever, winning the Berlin Marathon in 2:03:03.
It wasn’t the first time in 2016 that Dennis Kimetto’s world record of 2:02:57 from the 2014 Berlin Marathon nearly tumbled. Kenya’s Eliud Kipchoge came within eight seconds of his compatriot’s mark when he won the London Marathon in 2:03:05 in April.
It got us thinking. What would it have looked like had the trio run their PBs in the same race?
Let’s take a look at their individual performances.
Bekele’s six second deficit on Kimetto, calculated using his pace over the final 2.195km, would have seen him finish 35m behind the world record run. Kipchoge would have been a further 11m behind Bekele.
Kipchoge’s opening 5km was 26 seconds faster than that of Kimetto. It is worth noting that the London course has a downhill section between 2.5-3km.
Bekele also went out severely faster than Kimetto, though not as fast as Kipchoge, who maintained his fast pace through 10km before slowing significantly between 10-20km.
Bekele’s 35-40km split of 14:54 was the slowest of any 5km section of all three athletes, and would have left him trailing the leader by 150m going into the closing 2.195km. Yet his 6:08 for that final section was 20 seconds faster than Kimetto’s, which were run over the same Berlin course. It shows that Bekele still has immense finishing speed over a long distance.
Bekele and Kipchoge were on course for world records until around 30km. Kimetto’s 14:09 split between 30km and 35km was the fastest of any 5km section of any of the runners. He passed 40km in 1:56:29, the exact same split he clocked when he won the Chicago Marathon in 2013, where he finished 22 seconds off the then world record of 2:03:23.
So for 2017, can someone get these three guys in the same race, please? Oh, and Wilson Kipsang. The former world record holder owns three of the ten fastest marathon times in history and finished second in Berlin at the weekend.
Ethiopia Medihn in strong contention to promotion
When the three horse race continued last weekend, Super League Group ”B” leader Ethiopia Medhen stayed strong after a 4-1 demolition over city rival Addis Ababa Town. Strong side Legetafo Town clinched 2nd in the table following a 1-0 home victory over Halaba Town.
A magnificent hat trick from Abduletif Murad, Premier League promotion aspiring side Ethiopia Medinn tops the group table with two points clear of second place Legetafo. Abduletif led strike force became fiercer and fiercer, Medin’s goal tally reached an impressive 30 goals while conceding only ten. Three wins and a draw since the second round opens, Medin is in control of the group driving seat with 32 points from eleven wins, one draw and three defeats.” We are determined to return to the top tier” said the Coach Beselot.
With second place Ethiopian Construction Works Corporation (ECWCO) unexpected away draw against relegation favorite Diredawa Police, Legetafo Town took over second place after 1-0 home defeat to Halaba Town. Though ECWCO twice managed to come back from behind and battled to wrestle full points, the home side stood strong till last thus a draw at the final whistle.
Ahmed Yasin once again in the score sheet, Wolkite Town managed a 1-0 home win over Halaba Town to get back in to second place. Ten wins, two draws and three defeats, Wolkite lurks three points behind the league leaders.
Seven matches to go Diredawa Police sits 11th in the table with ten points with Yeka Sub-City bottom of the table with nine matches from 15 points.
Title deciding clash on Tuesday: St George versus Mekele
Likely to set a huge impact on the season’s title contention, the 22nd week Ethiopian Premier League’s biggest showdown takes place on Tuesday, bringing league leaders Mekele Town to a head on clash against serious title contender Saint George in Addis Ababa. Five-star Ethiopia Coffee returns to action visiting Adama Town in Nazareth while defending champion Jimma AbaJifar entertains in top form Sidama Coffee. Spear headed by leading top scorer Amanuel G/Michael, Mekele Town visit Addis Ababa on Tuesday to battle out the most important game of the season against record champions Saint George. Ten points clear off its counterpart, Mekele leads the table with 46 points from 14 wins, 3 draws and 4 defeats while Saint George is down to fourth place with 36 points. In bad form Adama Town entertains in high morale Ethiopia Coffee at Abebe Bikila Stadium. The visitors are under pressure to perform a duplication of last weekend whereas the home side is in need of a breathing space.
Runner-up Sidama Coffee travels to Western Ethiopia to visit defending champion Jimma AbaJifar. Both sides currently at their top form, the showdown is sure to give some adrenaline for football fans. Back from a shocking 5-0 defeat Baherdar Town faces despondent home supporters, entertaining relegation threatened, Dedub Police. Coach Paulos Getachew (Mango) is expected to face a tricky home match but expected to bring a strong stance to help supporters forget the recent away humiliation.
Second on the table Fasil Town hosts “The Love Birds” Diredawa while bottom table Dedebit will face city rival Welwalo Adigrat. Sehul Shere takes on visitors Hawassa Town.
