Though Board Chairman Lieutenant Fekade Mamo’s resignation was said to be in a one month pending yet nearly two months passed, former champion Ethiopia Bunna appears to be highly inspired by the arrival of care taker coach Gezahne Ketema. After winning two in a row, including Thursday’s 3-1 home win over bottom of the table Dedebit, Ethiopia Bunna leap frogged to 6th in the table with 28 points.
In his third spell as care taker coach with “The Brown Shirts” the humble Coach Gezahne is credited to bring unity and team spirit among the players who had been under heavy pressure from French Coach Didier Gomes. ” It is only his humbleness and tolerance of some players’ nastiness that helped him bring calm and peace to the team” a player who prefers anonymity suggested.
The team started the second round with 1-0 away defeat to relegation threatened Diredawa. But according to sources there was no naming and blaming and Gezahne’s comment was all about team spirit and commitment in the next matches. “Here we are with 1-0 away win over strong side Welwalo Adigrat followed by Thursday’s moral boosting home win over Dedebit” remarked another player.
Ethiopia Bunna deservedly won visitors Dedebit 3-1on Thursday and the die hard supporters were there under a heavy down pour to finally return home jubilant. The goals from Netambi, Hussein Sabani and Abubaker Naser were great but it is the win in such margins that gave supporters confidence in their beloved team. Dominating the ball, creating number of goal chances and tactical discipline helped Ethiopia Bunna its second win after five defeats in a row. What a good start for low profiled Gezahne!
Gezahne Ketema has third spell with Ethiopia Bunna
Asrat Megersa leaves Shere; Baherdar signs two
The former mid-fielder for the Ethiopian National Team, Asrat Megersa parted ways with Sehul Shere through a mutual agreement, while Premier League debutant, Baherdar signed two players.
A member of the historic Walya team that returned Ethiopia to the African Nations Cup final in 2015, Asrat Megersa’s footballing life appears to be on the decline as the tall defensive mid fielder has fallen short of expectations.
At the time it was a record transfer when he left Electric four years earler. However, the injury prone giant did not play well with any of the three teams he joined since: Dadhen Birra, Dedebit and Sehul Shere.
In fact, it looks like retirement may be on the horizon.
“He was nursing injury after injury for the past three seasons. I believe he has one last chance. This would be to play for his first team, Electric before retiring, a former coach for Dedebit suggested.
In the meantime, Baherdar signed two players days after a home win over title contender Sidama.
The former Legetafo striker who scored five goals for Shere, Ledetu Lemma replaced outgoing Ahmed Watara while mid fielder Michael Dagnachew in his second spell for the team should be an ideal replacement for Matias Wolde. Baherdar is 5th in the standings with 28 points.
Wubetu Abate inspires Fasil to EPL title race
After breaking league leading Mekele’s 13 match unbeaten run, Fasil has blown life into the Ethiopian Premier League title race. Only two defeats so far in the season the Gondor based side sits second in the table with 32 points just seven behind the top spot and a point above third place Sidama Bunna.
Fasil has three wins and two draws in the past five games. They have scored eight while conceding two goals. This may not be enough to catch Mekele but it is impressive. They are still seven points behind Mekele, which has star player, Amanuel G/Kidan.
With only ten goals in 18 matches, Wubetu has a strong defense. They have conceded an average of one goal in two matches. That is an amazing defensive record but winning titles is about having a strong back four. This is often more vital than strikers that can produce winning goals out of nowhere. With out having an accomplished striker like Amanuel in Mekele, Addis Gedey in Sidama and Menyelu Wondemu of Mekelakeya each with eleven goals, things will become harder for Fasil. It took the combined efforts of nine players for Fasil’s twenty goals.
Two consecutive home wins over Mekele and Sidama shows beating Fasil is going to be a hard task for whoever visits Fasiledes Stadium. Wubetu faces the huge challenge of getting a regular goal machine otherwise his dream of a second title will not become a reality.
Wubetu and company need to go extra lengths to help players stand the pressure until the end. There are three really tough games coming up and Wubetu Abate’s visit to his former team Ethiopia Bunna would mean the most crucial point in Fasil’s ambitious EPL title race.
Time to go for national boss: Abraham Mebratu
Pressure is mounting on Ethiopian national team Coach Abraham Mebratu following the humiliating expulsion from Olympic qualification preliminary round. Back from 4-0 away demolition by hosts Mali, questions whether Abraham who never have first hand experiences of football can build a humble national team in time for 2020 AFCON Cup final is stirring debates among football fans. “Abraham is trying to impress his employees by being busy on matters outside football like visiting youth projects far from Addis Ababa and planning an ambitious plan of visiting Europe and America in the name of Ethiopian football.
“I am planning to go abroad to discuss footballing matters with England national boss Gareth Southgate as well to scout footballers that could play for Walya” Abraham once told Ethiosoccer. And according to critics all these are about showing bravados to show that he is really doing something worth of 120000 Birr salary he is pocketing monthly.
“Being charming and harmless is what made him ideal for Sewnet Bishaw and so called national technic departments that always look for “A Yes Man” for the job” critics suggested.
When it comes to records since Abraham appointed national Boss that is eight months it is always about building the future and the young upcoming players he loves to talk. But so far he has nothing to show to football loving public except boasting subjective matters. Once he invited former footballers to discuss issues concerning the dramatic declines of the sport. But never told the public what he achieved in doing so. “That all is about media consumptions.” Wondemu suggested.
“He is the second ever national team coach since Sewnet Bishaw but a bit smarter than his predecessor in manipulating media” Wondemu added.
