Essayas Jirra of Oromia emerged as the Ethiopian Football Federation surprise President following the climax of the long overdue dramatic Presidential election. Unpopular Juneidin Basha denied a second term after walking out of the re-run election while former Vice President Teka Asfaw lost a majority vote.
The primary voting was a close run among three of the four candidates with Essayas pulling together 66, Teka collected 47, the outgoing president Junedin claimed 28 votes while late comer Tesfaye Kahesay managed only three. But for the regulation of a 50+1 vote in order to win the election, Essayas managed a land slide re-run victory securing 84 with Teka finishing second amassing 58 votes.
First degree in Biology and more than twenty years as Sport official at different positions including Jimma AbaJIfar Club President, Essayas had been relatively unknown figure until the chaotic situation raised some eight months back. Considering what energy and time the front runners Juneidin Basha, Teka Asfaw and Dr Asheber W/Giorgis wasted in the election campaign for the past ten months Essayas joined late in to the election as underdog.
However with a dramatic turn around that left frustrated Junedin and Tesfaye walking out of the re-run, the people’s choice Essayas Jirra took the mantle as Ethiopian Football Federation President for the coming four years. “We need to work together in order to bring change, success and bring something big in the country’s football.” Essayas remarked after the historic victory. “I believe in team work and ready to work with everyone willing to achieve our common goal” he added.
Out of the blue Essayas Jirra voted EFF’s new President
Registration opens for the 18th edition of the Great Ethiopian Run 10km
Organizers of the 2018 TOTAL Great Ethiopian Run are predicting all 44,000 places to sell out in just ten days, which would be record time. Registration opens on 11 June 2018. The race has sold out quickly since early registration was introduced five years ago. Based on participants’ feedback, this year’s race participants will wear a top-quality t-shirt which is sure to add value to Africa’s most colorful race – and the demand for places.
Registration for individual participants will take place at ten branches of Commercial Bank of Ethiopia (CBE). Furthermore, participants with their own CBE account can register at any branch of their choosing by mobile or Internet banking. Organizations registering groups of participants can register at the Great Ethiopian Run office by providing an official letter from their organization.
Last year registration was completed in ten days and organizers have given notice that participants this year should not delay in securing their places.
The ten CBE registration centers are:
China Africa Branch (Bole Tike Bld) Africa Avenue Branch (Dembel City center) Nigas Silk Branch (Saris area) Temenja Yaze Branch (Meshualekia) Mexico Branch (Debrework Tower) Mehale Gebeya Branch (Merkato) AradaBranch (Dembel City center) Selassie Branch (Arat kilo) Hayahule Mazoria Branch (Golagul Tower) Gurde ShollaBranch (Gurde Sholla market).
New wine in Old bag EFF Executive members’ election
Despite nationwide strong wind of new ideas, new blood, change and energy is blowing, Ethiopian Football Federation General National Assembly chose to act hear-nothing, see-nothing situation electing a ten members executive body mainly from the old school that had been at the very center stage of the decline of the country’s football.
Many who learnt lessons from past experience are speculating that the incoming executive body is worse than the outgoing one. Since that is what Ethiopian Football history lesson teaches, even the optimists opted for the wait and see situation. Football fans are questioning, what really is their ground that made individuals battling for the leadership of one of the weakest and poorly run Ethiopian Football.
Not more than five among the 22 candidates that has a firsthand experience as footballer or a success story in their individual carriers. Yet a war like campaign was going on for nearly a year and here comes the ultimate result that is an executive body dominated by old timers. Nothing better a show case than the voting out of former national team player later national coach who won Cecafa trophy on foreign land Asrat Haile better known Goradew.
Nevertheless the election took place in Semera, Afar and the ten member executive body including the vice president is now official. Former Dedebit FC founder and president Colonel Awol Abdurahim is the Vice President as well as member of the executive.
The one and only women Sofia Almamau, 31st African Cup qualification hero Sewnet Bishaw, Abdulrazak Hassen, Chan Gatcot, Ibrahim Mohammed are the fresh members of the executive body while former parliament member Abebe Gelagay, Alimirah Mohammed, Zerihun Kekebo and Yosef Tesfaye are for their second four year term as cabinet members.
Turkish Airlines World Golf Cup played in Addis Ababa for the first time
Turkish Airlines, a global leader in civil aviation, brought its ever-growing Turkish Airlines World Golf Cup to Addis Ababa Golf Club in Addis Ababa on Saturday June 2nd.
The airline, first in terms of country and international destinations that reached worldwide, prides itself on its award-winning Business Class service and its commitment to the Turkish Airlines World Golf Cup, which has more than 8,000 invited guests competing in more than 100 tournaments around the world, together with many other innovative and distinguished services, performed for offering its passengers an unparalleled flight experience.
Turkish Airlines is firmly committed to the aspirational vision of sporting competition and trusts in its ability to unite people from different nations.
That support extends from football, basketball, rugby and golf at all levels and the amateur series is a fine example of this from the carrier, which offers a multiple award winning Business Class service and allows guests to take clubs for free.
The Addis Ababa event was well supported by the local business community, numerous ambassadors and military personnel were among the competitors at Addis Ababa Golf Club.
With this year’s tournament is backed by The Financial Times, National, Titanic Hotels and clothing partner Ruck & Maul, the winners of the qualifiers progress to the Grand Finals in Antalya in November, when they have the chance to secure a place in the Turkish Airlines Open pro-am, will fly Business Class in Turkish Airlines and stay at the five-star Titanic Golf Deluxe Hotel.
Natnael Teshome will represent Addis Ababa there after winning the competition with a net score of 69, while Abdul Tekelee was runner-up, General Mehari was third.
The Nearest the Pin competition on the 6th hole was won by Brook Seifu for the men while Senidu Kassaye won the women’s category. Ephrem Selassie won the lowest gross score with 71.
“We would like to thank all of our guests who made the Turkish Airlines World Golf Cup here in Addis Ababa a huge success,” Ufuk Unal, General Manager for Turkish Airlines Ethiopia said.
“Once again, it was a fantastic tournament in the TAWGC series and congratulations to our winner, Natnael. We wish him the best of luck in Antalya.”
Turkish Airlines flies to 301 cities in 121 countries around the world and was awarded ‘World’s Best Business Class Catering Service’, ‘World’s Best Business Class Lounge’, and ‘World’s Best BusinesBusiness Class Lounge Dining’ at the Skytrax World Airlines Awards in 2017.
