Eye brows are turning in question of who is currently in charge of Dedebit FC following Ethiopian Premier League all time highest scorer Getaneh Kebede’s sudden departure to North America to take part in the ongoing Ethiopian Sport Festival in North America (ESFANA) annual event in Dallas-Texas and veteran mid field Efrem Ashamo’s early red card in the decisive away match against league leaders Jimma Abajifar over the week end. “Considering the current chaotic situation there appears no one in charge of the club. Make shift Coach Getu Teshome is just a symbol for the real power is with the senior players behind” one of the frustrated youngsters remarked.
Though Dedebit executives tried to play down the unannounced departure of the club’s number one striker Getaneh Kebede , a number of his team mates are suggesting that it is improper to simply walk out in mid-season while others are in effort of winning matches. According to insiders Dedebit’s down slide triggered by those veteran players who hardly listen to each other. “Getaneh, Seyoum Tesfaye, Asrat Megersa and Berhanu Bogale are throwbacks from the South African Cup of Nations who are playing king maker behind the screen,” the player suggested. “There appears no one to stop Getaneh from Dallas and this power vacuum is the reason for the decline of Dedebit currently sixth in the table slipping down from top table at the end of the first round,” he added.
In the meantime Dedebit issued a statement suspending mid fielder EfremAshamo for an undisclosed duration. Efrem is accused of seeing a red card early in the match against Jimma AbaJifar thus a culprit for the shocking three-nil defeat on Monday. According to a statement from the club Efrem’s red card was purposeful incident that influence the title contention as well relegation survival battle therefore the club decided for suspension of the player until further deliberation taking place.
Dedebit’s League season is coming to end in chaos
Dedebit to retain title while Electric & Sidama relegated
A single fixture remaining into Ethiopian Women’s League season closing Dedebit FC appears in pole position to retain the title for a record third season in a row. Ethio-Electric and Sidama Bunna relegated in to the lower division while Tiret Corporation, along with three other teams promoted to the upper tier.
In the title decisive match on Tuesday, Dedebit managed a goal less draw with rivals and runner-up Ethiopia Neged Bank thus three points and eleven points clear on top of the league table. In the absence of leading scorer Losa Aberra, Neged Bank managed to mount a huge effort to win the game but the muddy field at Addis Ababa Stadium denied them the opportunity thus a goal less draw at the final whistle. Dedebit takes a commanding position in the table with 41 points from 16 matches plus 31 goals while Neged Bank is likely to finish runner up for third successive season with 38 points and twenty goals. A 1-0 away defeat to Hawassa, The Army Side is third with 24 points and goal advantages while Hawassa with same point siting fourth.
Despite a 3-1 home victory over visitors Sidama Bunna both Ethio-Electric and Sidama are relegated finishing 9th and 10th in the table. Electric and Sidama each collected equal 14 points from 17 matches but for goal differences that Sidama finished bottom of the table.
Tiret Corporation champions of the second division with 66 points from 26 matches led the four teams promotion adventure followed behind by runner-up Arbaminch with 54 points, Addis Ababa third with 48 and Trunesh Dibaba Academy fourth with 44 points.
Ethiopian national U-17 takes part in Cecafa
The 2019 Total African U-17 Nations Cup East and Central Zone qualifier will take place in Tanzania from August 11 to August 26.
Tanzania is also hosting the main event in May 2019. Ethiopia is confirmed among the 10 participating nation which set their eyes to qualify for the biennial continental youth tournament.
The Red Foxes are pitted against regional powerhouses Uganda and Kenya. Minnows Djibouti and South Sudan complete the lineup in Group B. Ethiopia opens the qualifier against Uganda on Sunday, August 12. The team is expected to camp in unknown location at the end of July.
Coach Temesgen Dana will lead the team. The Red Foxes have not qualified for a major continental tournament since 1997. Ethiopia bow out early at the group stages of the CECAFA U-17 Championship which was hosted in Burundi where Tanzania triumphed over Somalia to take the crown.
National Stadium and Chamazi ground will host the qualifier games. The winner of the tournament will automatically get a spot in the next year’s U-17 Nations Cup along hosts Tanzania.
Full Group Draw
Group A: Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, Somalia, Sudan
Group B: Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Djibouti
Ethiopia’s Group B Fixtures
Sunday August 12
Uganda vs. Ethiopia (Chamazi)
Tuesday August 14
Djibouti vs. Ethiopia (Chamazi)
Sunday August 19
Ethiopia vs. South Sudan (Chamazi)
Wednesday August 22
Ethiopia vs. Kenya (Chamazi)
PM to meet with DC Diaspora
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s (PhD), request to meet with the Ethiopian Diaspora community in Dallas at its big football event in July, was not approved. However, the Ethiopian embassy in Washington DC is actively gathering thousands of Diaspora members to talk with the PM, Capital learned. Since PM Abiy took the position, the country has observed massive and unexpected changes that are very popular among Ethiopians inside and outside the country as well as the international community. The PM has met with a diverse array of community and social groups throughout the country during his first 90 days in office and has instigated political and social reforms.
The measures taken by his government have grabbed extra ordinary support for the PM, which included a rally last Saturday at the Meskel Square in Addis Ababa. Other events were held throughout Ethiopia and Washington DC, a major center for Ethiopian Diaspora. According to the information that Capital obtained from sources, the PM is expected to meet with an immense number of Ethiopian Diaspora in the near future. Recently the ruling party EPRDF announced the government would move to privatize some big enterprises and the Ethiopian Diaspora are expected to be the major players.
The PM has also called for the Diaspora to be part of the change in the country. This has included outlawed opposition members that he has invited for discussions about political reforms. Some of the opposition groups have already announced that they have accepted his invitation and entered the country. According to sources, the Ethiopian embassy in Washington DC is working to gather thousands at the meeting with the PM.
It is expected that the government would take new approaches with the role of Diaspora on the Ethiopian economy and investment, which the Diaspora would welcome as they have repeatedly asked for the government to make it easier to invest here.
Several sectors like the finance and telecom are the top areas that the Diaspora want to be open to them in order to participate.
For instance early this week the Ethiopian Diaspora Business Forum organizer, Ethiopian American LLC, that hosted 11 events in Ethiopia and the US, announced that the agendas of its latest event will focus on opening up investment sectors to the Diaspora.
They said that the 12th edition of the annual Ethiopian Diaspora Business Forum will this year focus on what roles the Diaspora may have in the future socio-economic landscape of the changing Ethiopia.
The Forum that will be held on July 7 at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in Washington DC under the theme “The Future of Diaspora Investment in Ethiopia: Exploring the Role of the Diaspora and New Opportunities,” shall see the organized points that would be tabled for the PM at his meeting with the Diaspora.
The theme of the forum is timely and critically important for the Ethiopian Diaspora community which is keen to chart out what positive roles to play in the fast changing Ethiopian landscape and the future of its economy and the community, according to the organizers.
“Ethiopia is at a crossroad in many ways. The recent economic reforms announced by the Government of Ethiopia will significantly change the way the Ethiopian Diaspora will invest and work in Ethiopia,” Yohannes Assefa, Executive Director of the Forum and Managing Director of the Ethiopian American LLC said.
According to Yohannes, the Diaspora business community is eagerly awaiting to participate and support the process of liberalization in a thoughtful and prudent manner. “We are hopeful and encouraged by the proposed changes. We believe we can add value and contribute to the process while helping to avoid unintended challenges that could easily result from this process.”
In its statement Ethiopian American LLC sent to Capital, a range of new investment policies have been tabled for discussion, including the opening of specific sectors in the past closed for Diaspora investment in Ethiopia.
“The potential opening of the financial sector, media and telecom to Diaspora investments along with the ability of Diaspora professionals from the legal and other sectors to participate in Ethiopia’s economy is monumental,” the statement added. It says these changes will have huge impacts in the way the Diaspora will engage in Ethiopia’s economy in the near future.
Ethiopian American LLC stated that Abiy is scheduled to travel to Washington to engage the Ethiopian Diaspora in the US during which he is also expected to announce a new approach of his administration in relation to Diaspora engagement.
Meles Alem, Spokesperson of Ministry of Foreign Affairs told Capital that he does not have any information about the PM meeting with the Diaspora in the US.
