Despite nationwide strong wind of new ideas, new blood, change and energy is blowing, Ethiopian Football Federation General National Assembly chose to act hear-nothing, see-nothing situation electing a ten members executive body mainly from the old school that had been at the very center stage of the decline of the country’s football.
Many who learnt lessons from past experience are speculating that the incoming executive body is worse than the outgoing one. Since that is what Ethiopian Football history lesson teaches, even the optimists opted for the wait and see situation. Football fans are questioning, what really is their ground that made individuals battling for the leadership of one of the weakest and poorly run Ethiopian Football.
Not more than five among the 22 candidates that has a firsthand experience as footballer or a success story in their individual carriers. Yet a war like campaign was going on for nearly a year and here comes the ultimate result that is an executive body dominated by old timers. Nothing better a show case than the voting out of former national team player later national coach who won Cecafa trophy on foreign land Asrat Haile better known Goradew.
Nevertheless the election took place in Semera, Afar and the ten member executive body including the vice president is now official. Former Dedebit FC founder and president Colonel Awol Abdurahim is the Vice President as well as member of the executive.
The one and only women Sofia Almamau, 31st African Cup qualification hero Sewnet Bishaw, Abdulrazak Hassen, Chan Gatcot, Ibrahim Mohammed are the fresh members of the executive body while former parliament member Abebe Gelagay, Alimirah Mohammed, Zerihun Kekebo and Yosef Tesfaye are for their second four year term as cabinet members.
New wine in Old bag EFF Executive members’ election
Turkish Airlines World Golf Cup played in Addis Ababa for the first time
Turkish Airlines, a global leader in civil aviation, brought its ever-growing Turkish Airlines World Golf Cup to Addis Ababa Golf Club in Addis Ababa on Saturday June 2nd.
The airline, first in terms of country and international destinations that reached worldwide, prides itself on its award-winning Business Class service and its commitment to the Turkish Airlines World Golf Cup, which has more than 8,000 invited guests competing in more than 100 tournaments around the world, together with many other innovative and distinguished services, performed for offering its passengers an unparalleled flight experience.
Turkish Airlines is firmly committed to the aspirational vision of sporting competition and trusts in its ability to unite people from different nations.
That support extends from football, basketball, rugby and golf at all levels and the amateur series is a fine example of this from the carrier, which offers a multiple award winning Business Class service and allows guests to take clubs for free.
The Addis Ababa event was well supported by the local business community, numerous ambassadors and military personnel were among the competitors at Addis Ababa Golf Club.
With this year’s tournament is backed by The Financial Times, National, Titanic Hotels and clothing partner Ruck & Maul, the winners of the qualifiers progress to the Grand Finals in Antalya in November, when they have the chance to secure a place in the Turkish Airlines Open pro-am, will fly Business Class in Turkish Airlines and stay at the five-star Titanic Golf Deluxe Hotel.
Natnael Teshome will represent Addis Ababa there after winning the competition with a net score of 69, while Abdul Tekelee was runner-up, General Mehari was third.
The Nearest the Pin competition on the 6th hole was won by Brook Seifu for the men while Senidu Kassaye won the women’s category. Ephrem Selassie won the lowest gross score with 71.
“We would like to thank all of our guests who made the Turkish Airlines World Golf Cup here in Addis Ababa a huge success,” Ufuk Unal, General Manager for Turkish Airlines Ethiopia said.
“Once again, it was a fantastic tournament in the TAWGC series and congratulations to our winner, Natnael. We wish him the best of luck in Antalya.”
Turkish Airlines flies to 301 cities in 121 countries around the world and was awarded ‘World’s Best Business Class Catering Service’, ‘World’s Best Business Class Lounge’, and ‘World’s Best BusinesBusiness Class Lounge Dining’ at the Skytrax World Airlines Awards in 2017.
Lucy needs to rise high on Wednesday’s return home leg
Ethiopian Women national side “Lucy” returned home after a 3-1 AWCON first leg qualification defeat to the hosts Algeria. The second leg is due to take place on Wednesday here in Addis Ababa, head coach Selam Zeray and company are optimistic they can turn around the two goal deficit and fly to Ghana for the Nations Cup final. “With the backing of the home crowd and the famous Addis Ababa high attitude, we have every advantage to go past the qualification stage and join the continent’s heavy weights in Ghana-Accra,” Selam told reporters.
The empty stadium due to the Ramadan Fasting season must have helped the visitors for they appeared to be bold and jumped on Lucy’s mistakes and halfhearted goal attempts. They even went further when Rehima Zergaw headed in the opener just fifteen minutes in to the whistle. Nevertheless the goal appeared to disturb the players’ mentality because silly mistakes and defensive errors followed suit. Three minutes later Medina Ramdeni grabbed the equalizer thus Lucy totally surrendered the match to the hosts as they became bolder and went for an all-out attack. Adia Adom added the second at 32nd minute followed by number of goal misses from the hosts.
Back from the dressing room it was all the same depression among the Ethiopian side whereas Algerians mounted pressure after pressure before Fatima Sekowune hammered the final nail halfway through the second half.
With the likes of senior players Losa Aberra and Senayet Bogale unusually quiet, the defense disarrayed with the hosts easily go past through, long and short passes wrongly footed and some fantastic saves from the goalie, Lucy turned up lucky for the result stood 3-1 at the final whistle.
“It is not as such a big deal losing with that score line for that one goal advantage meant a lot at home. I am sure with some adjustments Lucy has the potential of scoring more than two goals and sure they will qualify for the Cup final” one who travelled along with the team suggested. “Selam need to work out on how to score in the first fifteen minutes then after it is going to be an easy job” he added.
The one-goal life line at hand the return leg will take place on Wednesday at Addis Ababa Stadium with the aggregate winner securing a place in 2018 Ghana Cup final.
Saint George takes part in 2018 CECAFA Club Championship
CECAFA Club Cup previously known “Kagame Challenge Cup” is back after two years. Tanzania hosts the championship that brings together twelve teams in three groups. Drawn in group “C” Ethiopian flag bearer Saint George opens the campaign on 22nd June against group favorite and home side Young Africa.
It is the oldest championship of the continent. However, it has not had strong title sponsorship. The CECAFA Club Cup’s most recent edition occurred in 2015 in Darussalam with home side Azam FC winning the title after a 2-0 Cup final victory over Kenyan counterpart GorMahia.
Part of the USD one million dollar FIFA grant to host all the regional championships including the senior men’s and women’s competition, the 2018 event brings twelve sides from ten countries with Sudan and Eritrea the only absent ones. The main sponsor is the giant Tanzanian television firm Azam. Tanzania fields three sides including Young Africa and Simba.
The Ethiopian Premier League season is lagging behind schedule. It is also in title race time as five teams are in contention. The participation of Saint Gorge in the regional championship is on hold until final decision comes from the board of directors.
The tentative schedule for the 2018 CECAFA Club Championship Cup final is 30th June-14th July 2018.
Group A
Azam (Tanzania)
Club Uganda
JKU (Zanzibar)
Kator (S.Sudan)
Group B
Ryon Sport (Rwanda)
Gormahia (Kenya)
Lidya-Ludich (Burundi)
Ports (Djibouti)
Group C
Young Africa (Tanzania)
Simba (Tanzania)
KidusGiorgis (Ethiopia)
