Despite having a track record as former Ethiopian Football Federation President and leading the country to a two year ban from Fifa/Caf, the current Olympic Committee President Asheber W/Giorgis was the leading candidate in the long overdue EFF Presidential election.
Incumbent President Juneidin Basha ’sfive year term turned out to be the worst ever administration in the country’s nearly a century football history and the former Vice President TekaAsfaw’s nonappearance to the public, many anticipated Asheberwould be the clear favorite for the second term.
However, owner to chain of Dental Clinics Asheber’s sudden announcement of walking out of the controversy filled Presidential election took the sport family by sheer surprise. “As far as I know he was the only active campaigner for the presidency and things appeared to go his way when Fifa/Caf interfered in the election process. I believe he has done a good job at the Olympic Committee and why he changed his mind at the eleventh hour is a mystery.“What a waste of time and money,” suggested one ardent supporter.
“I am not sure the federation is well prepared for real democratic election. Though I knew it from the very start, I stood my ground since the regional federation and the football family has a strong belief in me. It pains me a lot to watch not only the decline of the football but also Ethiopia’s image marred in such ways,” Asheber remarked.
Though the newly elected electoral and appeal committee kicked-off its duty vigorously, the controversial resignation was the dominant head line story. “Why all that waste of time, energy and money,” asked one that followed the election seriously.
Asheber W/Giorgis’ resignation remains a mystery
Bahirdar firmly in control of group A top spot
The lake side Amhara region flag ship Bahirdar FC opened the Super League second round fixtures with a huge home victory while Addis Ababa was defeated during a derby match at the hands of down table YekaKefleKetema. Shere Endaselassie took over the second spot following a home win.
Drubbing bottom of the table Wello Kombolcha by a 3-0 score line, Bahirdar is firmly in control of the “Group A” top spot four points clear of second place Shere-Endeselassie which managed a 1-0 home win over visitors Ethiopian Construction Works Corporation (ECWC).
It is a moral boosting start for former Ethiopia Bunna, Sebeta and Hadiya-Hosana Coach Paulos Getachew popularly known “Mango” that appeared to discover the very right chemistry of promotion in to the upper tier in the coming season. Eleven wins, five draws and a single defeat so far in the season, the hot favorite to win the group Bahirdar is leading the table with 38 points that is four points clear of second place Shere-Endaselassie. Scoring the highest number of goals (29) shows a strong strike force while conceding (10) means equally strong defense therefore clear favorites to join the top tier.
Top spot strong contender Addis Ababa’s home defeat could mean the dream of steering back to the Premier League after just a single season is in jeopardy. A shocking last minute winner through coming from the bench Ashenafi Meteku, Coach Asrat Abate and company could do nothing about it, except walking out of the field head down. Addis Ababa is currently third with 33 points followed by Burayuand Sebeta each with 28 points.
St. George, Mekele, Ethiopia Bunna close in
Although most results for the 23rd fixtures turned out to be breathtaking including Electric’s 4-3 shocker over Dedebit FC, Mekele away victory over strong home side Adama stood taller. The defending champions are back to a historic place of the league’s top spot while Ethiopia Bunna crushed visitors Woldya in a home-away-from-home Sebeta Stadium.
At Adama, an amazing defensive display went along with a surprising counter attack as Yohannes Sahle broke Adama’s two year unbeaten home record on Tuesday. Yared Kebed and rising star Ammanuel G/ Meskel twice were on the score sheet and Mekele is a point down from joint league leaders Jimma AbaJifar and Saint George with each having40 points but Mekele with one match at hand.
After a 1-0 home win over visitors Welwalo-Wdigrat, reigning champions Saint George are back on top rubbing shoulders with Jimma AbaJifar but for goal differences. Umme Mohammed’s first half volley gave “The Horse Riders” the winning goal thus for the first time this season on top of the table. Jimma AbaJIfar missed a golden home chance sharing a point with visitors Arbaminch. Though still on top of the table with goal differences many considered this as the worst recent performance of title aspiring Jimma AbaJifar.
Abubaker Naser, Samuel Sanumi and Adamu Mohammed’s goal gave Ethiopia Bunna a crushing 3-0 away victory over Woldya. The win meant “The Brown Shirts” are closing the gap at top of the table just four points below with 36 points. Losers Woldya are bottom of the table with twenty points.
Seventh in the table with 33 points Hawassa won at home 2-0 over visitors Fasil while 12th with 25 points Direda waclinched a 1-0 home victory over visiting Mekelakya.
Electoral Committee announces Presidential candidates
The controversial Ethiopian Football Federation electoral committee announced a three candidate short list that is legible for the coming Presidential election. Three would be candidates Engineer Tsedeke Yehune from Addis Ababa, Engineer Chol Bel from Gambela and Ato Tesfaye Kahesay of Tigray have cancelled out of the race.
Fearless to stand in front of the football faithful public that he let down in his four year term, Ato Juneidin Basha is the front runner for a second term. Critics were taken by shocking surprise when Diredawa endorsed Ato Juneidin who as the President of the federation responsible for everything that went wrong from Players’ discipline to inferior referees, poor organization and the downslide of the country’s football.
The former Vice President also in the eyes of the critics had done nothing significant except raising finance for the 31st African Nations Cup final Ethiopia’s participation is a Presidential candidate from Amhara. Ato TekaAsfaw. He is considered the one that might challenge Juneidin in the Presidential election. “Teka’s chance is slim for Juneidin can better exploit the bureaucracy,” suggested a critic.
According to the critics’ suggestion Ato Essayas Jira from Oromia has little chance to seize the Presidential seat since he was almost an unknown figure before the current election turmoil started some eight months before. “It is the devil’s alternate,” remarked one critic.
The young and energetic former Ethiopia Bunna executive Tesfaye Kahesay was cancelled off the list following the Tigray region’s withdrawal of its endorsement while Engineer Chol was pushed off the election for submitting the necessary documents fifteen minutes past the deadline. “All of a sudden fifteen minutes became more important than the agenda at hand. Imagine a document to be thrown out for arriving from Gambelia 15 minutes late. It is a huge foul,” Engineer Chol told reporters.
Addis Ababa’s Presidential candidate Engineer Tsedeke Yehune owner of the successful Flint Stone Homes Real estate company who finances a number of sport activities was rejected for currently being the Chess Federation President because the procedure forbids an individual to serve in two federations. It now became a standing joke that the electoral committee does not love engineers for they might be denied a chance to join engineering college while young.
The appeal committee will hear a complaint from Gambela and Addis Ababa, but regardless the Fifa/Caf final election date is set for 3rd June 2018.
