Former Harar Birra, Dashen Birra and Baherdar Coach Samson Ayele returned to the hot seat after long break this time taking a huge task of rescuing new comers Sehul-Shere from relegation.
Three defeats in a row and closing to bottom of the table new comers Sehuil Shere kicked Daniel Tsehaye from the back to bring in Samson from a relatively long break. A single win, a record eight draws and six defeats to sit 15th in the table with 11 points from 15 matches, one of Tigray region’s four representatives at the Premier League Sehul brought in much experienced Samson to help the side. The second round kicks-off in three weeks. Samson is lucky enough to have a breathing space in order to reorganize the team. A weak strike force and defense line, Samson faces a huge task but it will be rewarding if he can manage the team to safety.
The former Welwalo-Adigrat versatile player Asari Almeha, the first to join the club for the second round, Samson is expected to have the right to sign number of players for his survival campaign. Although saving Sehul appears a high hill to mount, luck is with Samson for many of the second round encounters against the big teams are in front of home supporters. Saint George, Fasil, Baherdar, Hawassa and Ethiopia Bunna are all to face Samson on its own turf.
Relegation battler Sehul-Shere appoints Samson Ayele
Elias leaves AbaJifar, Henok Joins Ethiopia Bunna
Left to rot on the reserve bench former Ethiopia Bunna and national team mid fielder Elias Mamo parted ways with defending champion Jimma AbaJifar while former Sehul-Shere that now holds mid fielder Henok Getahnu landed a two-year contract with Ethiopia Bunna.
Frustrated for being forgotten, with only seven starts from 19 Premier League matches under Coach Zemariam W/Giorgis, Elias Mamo left AbaJifar in mutual agreement. Once considered an upcoming play maker orchestrating the mid field with Saint George, Elias played for Ethiopia NegedBank and Ethiopia Bunna before he joined the champions at the start of the current season. Blamed for being overweight and lack of inspiration, Elias was said to be not on good terms with Coach Zemaraim W/Giorgis and Technical Director Worku Dergeba therefore he left the club half way through his contract. Sources close to Elias told Capital the mid fielder is already in touch with other teams at the upper tier.
In other news Ethiopia Bunna appears to have discovered the right player to tackle the defensive mid fielder problem signing Henok who left Sehul-Shere in mid season after a mutual agreement. The former Adama and Jimma AbaJifar mid fielder had a good season start with Sehul but when some started pointing fingers at the team’s poor result, Henok decided to part with the team only to put pen to paper with Ethiopia Bunna in less than a month. The tall and heavy set Henok is expected to be the right answer for Didier Gomes’ who is currently under pressure from club supporters.
Miracle performer Alazar; popular choice at Debub Police
Fair Play award winner Gebrekristos Birara’s appointment in replacement of miracle performer with Premier League debutant Debub Police care taker Coach Alazar Melese left supporters in disappointment.
A single win and two draws in the past thirteen matches, Debub Police and Zelalem Shiferaw parted ways in mutual agreement therefore Alazar appointed stop-gap Coach until the end of the first round. But two wins out of two and Debub Police a step up the ladder to 14th in the table with 11 points, many got convinced that young Alazar to stay longer.
But to supporters’ surprise Dilla sacked Coach Gebrekristos Birara’s appointment at relegation struggler Debub Police calleda for disappointment from club supporters. Care taker Coach Alazar made a miracle winning two tricky matches a shocking 2-1 away win over Ethiopia Bunna and devastating defending champions AbaJifar to 6-1 score line. That is more than the total points in their 13 matches therefore supporters disappointment appeared to be sound for Gebrekristos’s recent record shows that he got sacked for poor results with Dilla while Alazar is an overnight hero slaying two giants.
With all variables stayed constant and the credit of success all goes to Alazar, supporters are in demand of long term contract to him. Gebrekristos’ huge credit of a real sportsmanship gesture of fair play that is saying no to a goal mistakenly given by the referee in favor of his side is something huge to appreciate. But handing the hot seat just for the sake of Fair Play appears to be illogical and likely to back fire soon if things in particular managing the players go wrong to Gebrekristos.
Fifty years in Ethiopia
Carsten Spohr has been Chairman of the Executive Board of Deutsche Lufthansa AG
