It is a pity that some people think Ethiopian football is just a place you come in and hold office, kill the game, walk out then suddenly decide to come back again later  walking majestically as if Ethiopian football fans and stakeholders have quickly forgotten.
It is a disgrace to Ethiopian football to see the name of Former Ethiopian football federation(EFF) President Dr.Ashebir Woldegiorgis seeking to make a return to the   same federation he ran down and left in bitter fighting during  his  term as President between 2005 and 2009. The  infighting led to the global banning of Ethiopia by the World Football Governing Body FIFA.  All these  shenanigans under Woldegiorgis’ stewardship  led to Ethiopia being thrown out of the 2010 World Cup qualifiers. As we speak he is currently embroiled in further problems after he left the Ethiopia basketball federation as President in a huff soon after being elected in order to seek the EFF Presidency, is this not the GREED that will kill our game in Ethiopia?
It is a pity that such people who cannot sustain their places in other federations are left to seek opportunities to hold office the so called ‘eat-a-food’ epidemic leadership must be eradicated in Ethiopia.
Dr. Ashebir without any prejudice has a bad record in managing football in Ethiopia that is why he resigned in 2009 when he had jumped from the frying pan into the fire when things went from bad to worse and suddenly he was facing a motion of dismissal. He quickly resigned and left problems that would take long to solve.
I think we need to really take a good hard look at what’s going on in our game today unlike the previous years. The football development and sustainability cannot be wrapped in cotton wool, protected from the real world when people like Ashebir seek a comeback. Do they see it as a privileged position? No, they have an inordinate sense of entitlement.
Football gives most of us relief from the normality of day-to-day life, conversation with your mates, a chance to shout and bawl at the match or at the telly and to bring Ethiopia together. Dr. Ashebir should find alternative employment and leave football alone.

Ethiopian U-17 national team nick named “Red Foxes” are taking part in the ongoing Cecafa championship tournament that takes place in host nation Burundi between 14th and 25th April 2018. There are eight teams in two groups. The Red Foxes are pitted in group “A” along with Burundi, Somalia and Kenya with the opening match against Somalia. Group “B” brings together the 2009 champion Uganda (The Cubs), Tanzania, Zanzibar and Sudan.
The Hawassa Town dominated Red Foxes appeared to be pitted in the humbler group where Kenya and hosts Brundi are favorites to get through the knock out stage. However, Ethiopia is considered an underdog that could make a run. The group heavy weight Uganda is expected to rise to the top of the group table along with Sudan; currently strongly working in youth development.
The former Hawassa U-17 team head coach Temesgen Dana is the boss with his lieutenants MulugetaAyechew and former renowned national team goal keeper BeleteWodajo taking care of the goalies. The group opening match is against Somalia, Ethiopia takes Kenya in the second match on Tuesday followed by the group final match against hosts Burundi on Friday.
Here is the roster: Goal Keepers: Mentesenot Gimbo (Hawassa), Tesfahun Adise (Adama), Setotaw Abebe (Saint George).
Defenders: Tsegab Yohannes and Dagem Wondimu from Hawassa, Azaryas Abel and Samuel Jagiso from Wolayta, Muez Muhedin (Adama) andAshenafi Getaches from Academy.
Mid field: Alamin Kedir (Adama), YebehalFereje (AA), Adem Abas (Academy) and Mesfin Tafesse from Hawassa.
Attack: FerolDemisse, NebiyuDawit and Muse Kebede from Ethiopia Bunna ,ObangOpang and TsegaDerebe from Academy, Redwan Nasser (AA) and Hagos Haile from Mekerlakya.

Former Wolayta Dicha head coach YonasTeferi is back to action after three months with Premier League side Fasil.  Ethiopia Insurance (Medin) and Derege Belay have parted ways after less than a year. After nine years of service, and the only coach known to WolaytaDicha since the team was founded ten years ago, Mesay lost his miraculous touch this season to nose-dive Dicha to the relegation zone and thus a bitter yet right decision from the club officials occurred. They replaced  him with long time assistant Zenebe Fissha. After four months self-meditating Mesay was called to Fasil to take over the hot seat from GettuTemesegen who had been at the pulpit for two half seasons. Famous for building a team from home grown talent and working under a tight purse, Mesay is expected to make a miracle with the Gondor based outfit aspiring for strong title contention.
In the meantime Super league side Ethiopia Insurance showed the way out to Dereje Belay renowned for his promotion streak with both Sebeta and JimmaAbaBuna.
Considering his past adventure with AbaJifar and Sebeta many expected Dereje to help Medin get promoted to the upper tier after five seasons in the woods. But things appeared to be out of reach for Dereje since Medin is tenth in the Super League Group “A” with 18 points from 15 matches and has no hope of promotion at the end of the season. A disagreement over a contract extension is said to be the reason for  the departure of Dereje from the Medin the side credited for producing so many big name players including GetuMelka, Abiy, MekbebYerdaw, Abdi Said, Abraham Bisrat and others.

Okiki Afolabi once again is on target at newly promoted side Jimma AbaJifar as they secured an important home win to close the gap on the top spot. Ethiopia Bunna’s three consecutive match winning streak came to an end after an away defeat at the hands of relegation struggling Arbaminch.
Despite introducing former national team and Ethiopia Bunna skipper Gatoch Panom back from the Russian side Anzimacachakala, visitng Mekele failed to return home with a point. Though creating a number of goal chances AbaJifar could only manage a 1-0 victory through Okiki Afolabi. Philip Ovono’s magnificent goal saved the day for Mekele. With that win AbaJIfar sits second with 32 points a point below league leaders Dedebit, who settled for an incredible goalless home draw against Diredawa on Wednesday.
Back into the title race after three consecutive wins, Ethiopia Bunna was expected to return home with all three points. But the hosts Arbaminch won the day with two second half goals through TsegayeAberra and team skipper AmanuelGobena. Arbaminch jumped four steps to clinch the 16th spot on the table with 19 points while “The Brown Shirts” slipped to fourth with 29 points from 19 matches.
The defending champions scratched to a 1-0 home win over visitors Sidama Bunna with the winning goal from Ume Mohammed. Saint George jumped to the third spot with 30 points and a game in hand while Sidama stayed ninth with 24 points. Adama had only ten men but  returned home with a 1-0 win over Mekelakya thanks to Bulcha Shura’s second half winning goal. An injury time equalizer from Welwalo, meant that Ethio-Electric returned home sharing a point while WolaytaDicha’s home encounter with Hawassa ended in 1-1 draw.