Ethiopian Football Referees and Match Officials Association passed a firm resolution that calls for a suspension of all league matches for the coming three weeks. The Association submitted an eight point enquiry to be fulfilled by the federation before resuming their duty. Insurance coverage, air plane transport and proper security protection on match venues are the notable once from their list of inquiries.
Following the attack on referee Eyasu Fente on Sunday’s Mekelakya versus visitors Welwalo-Adigrat in Addis Ababa, the association called an immediate General Assembly meeting that passed the toughest ever resolution that rocked the football family especially the Clubs and bottlenecked  Ethiopian Football Federation. “We demand an immediate response for our resolution before officiating any league plays” the Association firmly stated.
The incident occurred when referee Eyasu awarded a controversial goal to home side Mekelakya. Then visitors’ players automatically started to chase him to the touch line where Welwalo team leader Maru G/Tsadik “who has since been fired” hosted him with a punch that knocked him down. Though this is not the first, rather a frequent phenomenon since the recent time Ethiopian Football chaos (the latest with assistant Referee Mustefa Meki’s serious attack in Woldya versus Fasil match where the official ended in a hospital), things currently appeared too much to handle thus the Association submitted such strong resolution.
After EFF called an emergency meeting with Premier League sides on Thursday, all the clubs suggested the League to resume as the winter season is closing. Referees and Match Officials Association stood ground thus EFF to have a meeting with them today.
Ethiopia Bunna’s Board Chairman Lieutenant Fekade Mamo’s suggestion at the meeting on Thursday of looking for referees from neighboring countries like Djibouti, Kenya or Sudan, which took many by mocking surprise. “If we have that financial muscle why not we treat our own referees the proper way?” asked one participant. It is 1,000 Birr that is less than 35 Dollars a referee earns for a match.

A new trend of discovering Ethiopian Footballers new talents is launched through Ethiopian Premier League side Diredawa Ketema. The only representative of Eastern Ethiopia, Diredawa handed a three months trial period to three Ethiopians from Holland. According to sources if things go smooth and as planned the trios will sign a contract with the club for the coming new season.
Thanks to former Ethiopian Air Force and National team player Genene Mekbeb resident of Den Hague-Holland for more than three decades, three Dutch-Ethiopians: Samuel Habtamu, Noah Habte and Tensae Abebe reached to the resort town on Monday to kick-off their trial period. Turned a Licensed Football Coach in Holland, Genene scouted the players for longer period and send them to try their luck with Diredawa. According to Genene it doesn’t mean only to Diredawa but if things turned out successful Ethiopian young talents are to join other clubs in need. “They have a dream of playing to Ethiopian national team and I believe they have a good chance of making in to the Ethiopian national team” Genene suggested.
The three footballers had had years of experience in the football including playing in professional leagues as well came through the youth schemes of the famous Dutch football. Twenty two years-old Samuel Habtamu,19 years old Noah Habte and Daniel Abebe have launched their trial period as of last Monday under the stewardship of former Electric and national team mid fielder currently Diredawa head trainer simon Abay. Diredawa is currently bottom of the Premier League table with just 19 points from 21 matches.

Despite a chaotic season full of controversies and horrific disciplinary incidents including the knocking out of referees, the title race stands as the recent times most crowded title races with no less than seven sides plotting for the crown. Three sides: newly promoted Jimma AbaJIfar, Mekele Ketema and the defending champion Kidus Giorgis appeared heavy weights boasting huge fire powers.
The two new comers Jimma AbaJIfar and Mekele Ketema are currently leading the league table with AbaJifar claiming the top spot four points clear off second place Mekele Ketema with two games in hand. Six points down yet with two games in hand Kidus Giorgis is fourth in the table.
Having the deadliest strike force of the league with 26 goals out of which 14 in the name of Nigerian Okikola Afolabi, AbaJifar have real potential to go all the way through the title contention. Boss Gebremedhin has built the best of squads in his carrier, well organized defense backed by magnificent goalie. Four wins and two draws in the past five matches this may be time to AbaJifar to write new chapter.
Only two defeats in 16 consecutive matches, Amanuel G/Michael and Ghanaian Bismark Opong leading the strike force each hammering in six, Coach Yohannes Sahle appears in performance of a champion conceding only eight goals in as much as the games. Adding a strong mid field presence former Ethiopia Bunna skipper Gatoch Panom in mid-season, Mekele has everything but championship experience is what it lacks.
A single win in the past five matches third place Dedebit in a slip, fourth place KIdus Giorgis is still the team to beat in order to clinch the crown. Two matches in hand “The Horse Riders’” abundant experience in snatching away titles from the mouth of contenders, a six point difference might not be too difficult to jump over.
Eight fixtures to go and teams performance swaying every week ends, the prediction may be a bit earlier. But with what the record shows the three appear real title contenders with the remaining four capable of any surprise.

A shocking away defeat at the hands of relegation threatened Arbaminch Ketema on Monday heralded that defending champions Kidus Giorgis’ dream of unprecedented five consecutive Premier League Titles is in danger. Though Dedebit appeared to fade away from strong title contention, newly promoted sides Jimma AbaJifar and Mekele Ketema are showing some character that this time they are up for their first ever league title.
An experienced head trainer Carlos Pinto from Portugal holding the reign and three of the five foreign players including Ghanaian debutant striker Richard Appiah in action against a side that has no foreign player and led by active goalie Jackson Fita, the question why an overseas footballers are here to sign a seven figure salary is getting stronger.
A first minute opener then the second at the 38th followed by the third six minutes later, by the time Pinto brought in full back Abebaw Butako at 48th minute followed by Appiah in the 52nd and veteran die hard Adane Girma at the 67th, the hosts had already camped back on their own half with solid defense. Add two missed golden chances from Berhanu Adamu the goal tally would have even gone higher. Such a three star complete domination is hard to accept for Kidus Giorgis.
Pinto was expected to come up with some ideas to reverse the situation even before the break for it is a rare chance in Ethiopian Football to come back in away match let alone with a three goals advantage. Teams from the south appeared the wisest against Giorgis: Dicha broke the champions’ unbeaten eight matches run then Hawassa Ketema’s 4-1 home demolition and now a 3-0 away defeat to the Alligators that lost three nil in their earlier game against Welwalo Adigrat. It must be some curse from aback.
Though Giorgis are still in the title race currently fourth in the table with 33 points and two matches in hand that is five points from AbaJifar with 38 and second place Mekele Ketema with 35 points and two games in hand. The two sides are showing no wavering in their recent performances thus it is no easier to a record consecutive five league titles.