More than two decades orchestrating the mid field play, Mulualem Regassa is still going strong in Ethiopian Premier League football signing a new contract deal with newly promoted side Debu Police. Late in to the new season transfer market, Debub Police under newly appointed Head Coach Zelalem Shiferaw faces a huge task to stay at the upper tier.
The veteran midfielder who had had the best of his footballing carrier with Saint George as well as the national team has now became the most traveling senior footballer joining his fifth team in twenty plus years in a one year contract worth unofficial 400,000 Birr.
CECAFA Championship title and six Premier League titles with Saint George out of which four under his captaincy, Mulualem had been in the top league football for the past twenty three years yet still stands as one of the most versioned play maker who could deliver an inch perfect long passes.
Desperate to build a a squad that at least battles out survival in its first season at the upper tier, Head Coach Zelalem signed the veteran mid fielder over the week end. Though he is past forty years old with 23 years action packed experience with five different clubs many believe Mulualem could be an important helping hand to Zelalem if the squad members are willing to listen to him. Past forty he is not expected to run after balls but his expertise is on what to do with the ball in his possession.
In addition to his heyday with Saint George he has played significant roles in steering Sebeta Ketema and Ethiopia Medin promote to the Premier League as well contributed much in helping Hawassa Ketema stay at the upper league last season.
Mulualem Regassa joins newly promoted Debub Police
“Right decision, wrong timing” St George sacks Pinto
After a two month preparation and signing number of new footballers including five foreign players, Saint George head coach Carlos Vas Pinto parted ways with the club last week. “A shocking wrong timing to sack a coach and the worst situation for whoever comes in to the hot seat,” Coach Mesay Assefa remarked about the unexpected departure of Pinto. “The coming coach would have a readymade excuse not to deliver what is expected of him,” Mesay added.
Most soccer fans agree the sacking of the Portuguese Head Coach although he was genuinely struggling to change the usual kick and run football the trade mark of Saint George. But failure to bring any silverware at the end of the season and denying the club a place in international football for the first time in half a dozen years, Saint George could do nothing except sacking him even before the end of his two years contract. The least Pinto should have won was the knock-out trophy but lost it to humble side Mekelakya and that was the last straw his adversaries were waiting.
Why the club’s officials let him stay all through the preseason and signed players who are suitable for his style is what makes the situation a bit bizarre. Above all Saint George opens the new season without a Head Coach and this could have its negative implication at the end of the season. Well it is common experience for the club could easily collect local championship titles. But what about the big picture of building a strong Saint George that could do something at international level appeared to be no one’s concern.
Carlos Pinto is the ninth foreign Head Coach to reign at Saint George since the club decided to turn backs on local Head Coaches since 2003. Saint George won the Premier League for a record fourteen times since the new format introduced in 1998. The rumor is that of an English Coach to come to the hot seat.
EFF announces miraculous Super League new format
Ethiopian Football Federation announced a much appreciated new format to execute the 2018/19 Super League new season. The third edition brings together 36 teams in three groups with the winners of the groups to win automatic qualification to the Premier League.
Geographical location and infrastructural accessibility were among the factors taken in to consideration in the set up of the groups while the format in which 12 teams each in the three groups’ means a twenty-two annual fixtures season that is less than eight matches than the last two seasons.
Former twice Ethiopian champions that relegated last season Ethio-Electric and Woldya are expected to dominate the group where Sebeta, Amhara Water Works, Axum, Dessie, Burayu, Akaki-kaliti, Gelan, Woldya-Kombolcha and Federal Police coming together.
Ethiopia Medin and Addis Ababa appeared to be the heavy weights of Central-Southern-Eastern group. Yeka Sucity, Dilla, Halaba, National Cement, Hambericho, Wolkite, Arsi, Wolayta Sodo and Diredawa Police are the twelve sides’ battling for promotion.
Three former Premier League sides’ Arbamich, Hadiya-Hossana and Jimma AbaBuna are the most experienced teams that already tasted the Premier League action thus making the group the strongest of the three. Negele, Butagera, Selte Werabe, Nekemt, Bishoftu Automotive , Benchmaji, Kaffa Bunna and Shinshicho are the other teams ready for the huge task of promoting to the upper tier at the end of the current season.
According to critics the new format is the first big achievement of the newly elected EFF executive committee and it is to benefit the teams as well the players for every fixtures to take place over week ends and the distance to cover in away matches so minimal.
Baherdar visits St George while Bunna travels to Mekele
In vain of being absent from international fixtures for the first time in seven seasons, Saint George opens the new season boasting five foreign players and the best local talents the nation could provide. Saint George entertains Super League runner up Baherdar at Addis Ababa Stadium today while home victory at the opening day match Ethiopia Bunna travels to Mekele for a big show down against home side Dedebit FC. Head Coach Wubetu Abate hosts his former team Hawassa at Fasildes Stadium.
Strikers Getaneh Kebede and Abel Yalew are the best talents from home to line-up to Saint George while a Kenyan Goal keeper replaces Robert Odonkara after eight years. Of course the visitors under former Ethiopia Bunna player turned Coach to Bunna and Hadiya Hossana Paulos Getachew popularly known Mango is not an easy going adversary for he has huge followers’ as well good experience at the upper tier. Forget not he commands the presence of four foreign players including Nigerian goal keeper Harriston Hesu. The match is much expected to bring a fresh atmosphere to the stadium.
A 2-1 home victory over Diredawa last week end Ethiopia Bunna is the favorite to return home with another win for the team is in good form following Addis Ababa City Cup trophy. Dedebit yet on the process of rebuilding seems hardly an outfit to challenge the visitors.
Wubetu Abate back from season opening away defeat entertains his former side Hawassa under a new boss Adise Kassa. The Gondor based Fasil has a huge home supporters and signed number of new players therefore Hawassa to face a huge encounter at Fasildes stadium.
Newly promoted Debub Police hosts Super Cup winners Mekelakya in its first ever Premier League season. Seyoum Kebde highly praised to stick with only local players and building a strong side, Debub Police needs to be lucky even to scratch for a draw. Shere Endaselassie also in its first ever upper tier appearance entertains Wolyta Dicha spear headed by veteran striker Andualem Negussie.
