Ethiopian Premier League defending champion Saint George kicks-off the 2018 African Champions League new season campaign entertaining its counterpart from Sudan Wau Salaam FC for the two leg pre-qualification matches today. Knock out holders Wolayta Dicha faces Zimamoto of Zanzibar in its first ever international game in the club’s history.
Though The Horse Riders have a long history in the Champions League, this is the debut international match. Carlos Manuel Pinto who took over the reign three months back. Pinto appeared to build a ball playing attack minded squad and his stamp was already seen in the team’s local league performance. In the meantime conceding a single defeat in twelve league matches. Six foreign players in the squad including Ugandan international goalie Robert Odungkara and midfielder Prince Severnho of Ivory Coast, here comes the big test for Carlos whose priority is to take the club at least to champions’ league last quarter final stages.
Formed in 1968 the South Sudan league champions that own the Wau stadium with 30,000- capacity, El-Salaam nick named White Doves has little experience at international stages thus Saint George is expected to finish business here in front of the home crowd. All players except striker Salhadin Said will be on the squad therefore club supporters are expecting the best of their team today.
The return leg takes place next Sunday at Hawassa Stadium.
Dicha in away debut international; Saint George hosts White Doves
Bezawit Damtew
Name: Bezawit Damtew
Education: BSc in Civil Engineering and BA in Business Management
Company name: Forge General Contractors
Title: Founder and Deputy Manager
Founded in: 2017
What it does: Building Design and Construction
HQ: Megenagna
Number of employees: 4
Startup Capital: 15,000 birr
Current capital: Growing
Reasons for starting the business: To create job opportunities for others and to be self employed
Biggest perks of Ownership: Help me to develop my capacity
Biggest strength: Commitment
Biggest challenge: Finding customers
Plan: To be one of the best construction companies in Ethiopia
First career: Engineer
Most interested in meeting: Oprah Winfrey
Most admired person: My grandmother
Stress reducer: Chilling with my friends
Favorite past-time: Watching movies
Favorite book: The Godfather by Mario Puzo
Favorite destination: Seychelles Island
Favorite automobile: Toyota CH-R
Girma leaves AbaBuna; Ezedin new boss at Hossana
The former Mugher Cement and Ethiopian national U-17 team head coach Girma Habte Yohannes resigned along with his assistant Elias Teshale in a mutual agreement with Jimma AbaBuna. Ezedin Abdella took over as new boss to Hadiya Hossana.
Popular for his down to earth behavior and hard to believe patience with young talent, Girma appeared to be in discomfort with the pressure from promotion aspiring Jimma AbaJifar. Replacing the now with Jimma AbaJifar head coach Gebremedin Haile, Girma appeared to build slowly but steadily currently sitting eighth in the Super League table collecting 14 points from four wins, three draws and two defeats. The home draw against Mekki happened to be the last straw.
The club officials resigned earlier, some of the senior players were mad because of lack of payment and support from fans so Girma;’s frustration boiled over.
Also in the run is the assistant coach Elias Teshale who declined the offer previously. Naming the goal keeper coach to shift to head coach, AbaBuna’s officials are said to be in head hunt of a capable head coach.
In other news former Premier League side Hadiya-Hossana appointed the former Selte Werabe head coach Ezedin Abdella in place of Eyob Maale who recently took over at Arbaminch. Lucky Ezedin kicked-off his job with a 3-0 debut victory over Diredawa Police courtesy of a hat trick from young Ibsa Fekadu.
Ethiopia Bunna cuts three; Woldya short handed
Ethiopia Bunna parted ways with three of its winter break signees while Woldya is worried about the six players who failed to report back to the club.
The impact of the hard working French head coach Didier Gomes’s arrival has shown for Ethiopia Bunna as they have won two in a row. A 2-0 away victory over Diredawa and a hard fought 3-2 home victory over Fasil. Gomes has signed two foreign strikers Boban Ziruntusa from Uganda and Baptiste Faye from Senegal who are waiting until the second round kick-off.
Though joining Ethiopia Bunna after a successful trial period with former coach Dragan Popadic, Bereket Yishak has just a single goal in more than eight starts, former Electric striker Manaye Fantu has yet to score and the former Welwalo- Adigrat famous winger Abduselam Nuru is taking time to get adjusted to the big leagues, Gomes let the three players go their way after a mutual concession. According to sources the French wizard is said to be in negotiations with two more foreign players that could join the team for the second round.
In another development after two weeks of interruption Woldya is back to action calling all players back to camp in Woldya. All the players except for six have already started practice getting ready for the coming busy schedule. Fitsum G/Mariam, Menyahel Teshome, Amare Bekele, Tadele Mihiret, Yared Berhanu and Edom Kodzo are no shows.
According to the club’s manager the players are expected to join the squad soon because things are calm and home supporters are jubilant to see them back in action. “We are in need of a strong squad for the busy schedule and everybody wants to see Woldya back on track. Failure to join the team in time will have serious consequences,” club manager Germew remarked.
