Ethiopian Women’s league leading striker Loza Abera and ex-Ethiopian national Women side “Lucy” skipper Tutu Belay travelled to Sweden for a tri out stint with Sweden based women sides FC Rosengard and Pitea IF. Though The Ethiopian Women’s league season has two remaining fixtures sources disclosed that both players secured the blessing of their respective clubs Dedebit FC and Saint George.
The two players have impressed a Sweden based football scout as they set for a try out in the North West Europe. The Dedebit and Lucy forward Loza is one of the greatest women’s Ethiopian strikers to ever come out from the country in recent times while Tutu, an ex-Ethiopian national side captain, had a fruitful time at Dashen Bira, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Niged Bank and now at Saint George.
FC Rosengård and Piteå IF are said to be the clubs that the two Ethiopians will have a tryout. FC Rosengård is 11 times Damallsvenskan, the highest division of women’s football in Sweden, champions’ likewise regular competitors in the European Women Champions League.
If things go well for Lucy’s marks girl Loza who previously had had a trial at Turkish side Antalyaspor and for the brainy mid fielder Tutu Belay they are going to be the second and third Ethiopian Women Footballers to grace European Football next to former Ethiopia Niged Bank and national team shot stopper DagmawitMekonnen who joined for a one year contract deal with Turkish side AkdenizNurçelikSpor.
Loza and Tutu Belay travel to Europe for trial stint
Dedebit’s League season is coming to end in chaos
Eye brows are turning in question of who is currently in charge of Dedebit FC following Ethiopian Premier League all time highest scorer Getaneh Kebede’s sudden departure to North America to take part in the ongoing Ethiopian Sport Festival in North America (ESFANA) annual event in Dallas-Texas and veteran mid field Efrem Ashamo’s early red card in the decisive away match against league leaders Jimma Abajifar over the week end. “Considering the current chaotic situation there appears no one in charge of the club. Make shift Coach Getu Teshome is just a symbol for the real power is with the senior players behind” one of the frustrated youngsters remarked.
Though Dedebit executives tried to play down the unannounced departure of the club’s number one striker Getaneh Kebede , a number of his team mates are suggesting that it is improper to simply walk out in mid-season while others are in effort of winning matches. According to insiders Dedebit’s down slide triggered by those veteran players who hardly listen to each other. “Getaneh, Seyoum Tesfaye, Asrat Megersa and Berhanu Bogale are throwbacks from the South African Cup of Nations who are playing king maker behind the screen,” the player suggested. “There appears no one to stop Getaneh from Dallas and this power vacuum is the reason for the decline of Dedebit currently sixth in the table slipping down from top table at the end of the first round,” he added.
In the meantime Dedebit issued a statement suspending mid fielder EfremAshamo for an undisclosed duration. Efrem is accused of seeing a red card early in the match against Jimma AbaJifar thus a culprit for the shocking three-nil defeat on Monday. According to a statement from the club Efrem’s red card was purposeful incident that influence the title contention as well relegation survival battle therefore the club decided for suspension of the player until further deliberation taking place.
Dedebit to retain title while Electric & Sidama relegated
A single fixture remaining into Ethiopian Women’s League season closing Dedebit FC appears in pole position to retain the title for a record third season in a row. Ethio-Electric and Sidama Bunna relegated in to the lower division while Tiret Corporation, along with three other teams promoted to the upper tier.
In the title decisive match on Tuesday, Dedebit managed a goal less draw with rivals and runner-up Ethiopia Neged Bank thus three points and eleven points clear on top of the league table. In the absence of leading scorer Losa Aberra, Neged Bank managed to mount a huge effort to win the game but the muddy field at Addis Ababa Stadium denied them the opportunity thus a goal less draw at the final whistle. Dedebit takes a commanding position in the table with 41 points from 16 matches plus 31 goals while Neged Bank is likely to finish runner up for third successive season with 38 points and twenty goals. A 1-0 away defeat to Hawassa, The Army Side is third with 24 points and goal advantages while Hawassa with same point siting fourth.
Despite a 3-1 home victory over visitors Sidama Bunna both Ethio-Electric and Sidama are relegated finishing 9th and 10th in the table. Electric and Sidama each collected equal 14 points from 17 matches but for goal differences that Sidama finished bottom of the table.
Tiret Corporation champions of the second division with 66 points from 26 matches led the four teams promotion adventure followed behind by runner-up Arbaminch with 54 points, Addis Ababa third with 48 and Trunesh Dibaba Academy fourth with 44 points.
Ethiopian national U-17 takes part in Cecafa
The 2019 Total African U-17 Nations Cup East and Central Zone qualifier will take place in Tanzania from August 11 to August 26.
Tanzania is also hosting the main event in May 2019. Ethiopia is confirmed among the 10 participating nation which set their eyes to qualify for the biennial continental youth tournament.
The Red Foxes are pitted against regional powerhouses Uganda and Kenya. Minnows Djibouti and South Sudan complete the lineup in Group B. Ethiopia opens the qualifier against Uganda on Sunday, August 12. The team is expected to camp in unknown location at the end of July.
Coach Temesgen Dana will lead the team. The Red Foxes have not qualified for a major continental tournament since 1997. Ethiopia bow out early at the group stages of the CECAFA U-17 Championship which was hosted in Burundi where Tanzania triumphed over Somalia to take the crown.
National Stadium and Chamazi ground will host the qualifier games. The winner of the tournament will automatically get a spot in the next year’s U-17 Nations Cup along hosts Tanzania.
Full Group Draw
Group A: Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, Somalia, Sudan
Group B: Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Djibouti
Ethiopia’s Group B Fixtures
Sunday August 12
Uganda vs. Ethiopia (Chamazi)
Tuesday August 14
Djibouti vs. Ethiopia (Chamazi)
Sunday August 19
Ethiopia vs. South Sudan (Chamazi)
Wednesday August 22
Ethiopia vs. Kenya (Chamazi)
