In quest of further adventures, Wolayta Dicha has been shopping for new players like there is no tomorrow while cutting ties with two foreign players; Nigerian goalie Emanuel Fevor and defender Masama Aselmo from Chad.
The team is coming off an impressive run after its first international games. They beat Zanzibar’s Zimamoto and then won in inspiring fashion, 2-1 over one of Africa’s giants Zamalek. Head coach Zenebe Fisseha said that the foreign players, who had only played in one game out of ten, were not disciplined.
“Both are playing at the expense of local talent, which I believe causes huge damage to our country’s football,” Zenebe suggested to reporters. “I don’t think many of the players from outside are better than the local boys,” he added.
Zenebe signed two players from Arbaminch: striker Yonatan Kebede and Tadios Wolde each on a one year contract. Famous winger from the Super League side, Wolkite, who did not play with Sidama, Tsgaye Balcha and the former Adama central defender Wondwosen Bogale joined the team nicknamed ‘The Tona Bees’ on a one year loan agreement. Three more players are expected to join Zenebe soon. He is known as a player’s coach as one player said, “his motivation and team building has inspired us.”
Wolayta Dicha goes through a rebuild
Menyamer out; Seyoum Kebede to take over Mekelakya
A 4-0 drubbing at the hands of leading Dedebit appeared to trigger the sacking of little known Mekelakya head coach Menyamer Tsegaye.
Seyoum Kebede was the former coach of the National team, Saint George and Addis Ababa City.
Mekelakya had just three wins, six draws and six defeats and collected only 15 points from 15 matches; meaning they are only one point clear of relegation.
In his first year with the team taking over from Belete Gebrekidan at the start of the new season, Menyamer appeared to be incompetent as there was inconsistency, irregular line ups and lack of strategy. Many felt the firing should have happened sooner.
Mekelakya has a storied history with numerous titles and trophies. “Being the only team without foreign footballers is not a good reason for the young coach’s poor result,” a critic suggested.
Currently with Super League side Sebeta, the former Saint George defender turned Coach Seyoum Kebede has embarked on the sinking ship in time to boss it to safety. Seyoum’s 21 points in 12 Super League matches to sit 5th in the 16 side table might not be impressive but he has a lot of experience in the Ethiopian and Yemen leagues.
The former Ethiopian national team, Ethiopia Bunna, Ethio-Electric, Diredawa and Fasil playmaker Dawit Estifanos is joining the team on a three year contract, Mekelakya under Seyoum is due to sign new players for the second round.
Bahirdar in command of group “B” Super League
A first half double strike from Wosen Ali and Fikremichael Alemu helped Bahirdar take over the Super League Group “B” top spot after a 2-0 victory over Amhara Water Works. Burayu managed a rare away victory over Axum to sit second in the table in goal differences with Shere-Endeselassie.
One of the five strong sides battling to emerge winner of Group “B”, Bahirdar is peaking at the right time not only winning but also performing with superior efforts in every single match. They now lead by four points with 24 points from 13 matches.
They have nine goals in the last three consecutive matches while conceding just one, Bahirdar appears to be in command, doing everything they need to win promotion at the end of the season.
The former Ethiopia Bunna and Hadiya-Hosana head coach Paulos Getachew’s Burayu returned from Axum after a 2-1 away win thus sitting second with 24 points.
With three wins in a row including a 2-0 victory over Yeka Sub City, Shere is rubbing shoulders with second place Burayu with a single goal difference. The Tigray region outfit had been close to promotion in the last two seasons but they would lose steam at the end. Addis Ababa slipped down in to 4th place following successive defeats including a 3-0 shocker to Legetafo. After a 1-0 home win it recovered in time to stay on course collecting 23 points from 12 matches.
Back from 1-0 win over Wollo-Kombolcha, and with two games in hand Legetafo is 5th in the table with 19 points. However, they have a lot of potential and could catch up with the leaders.
Dedebit tops first round, Arbaminch sits rock bottom
New comers Jimma Aba Jifar and Mekele emerged as the surprising stories of the first round in the 2018 Premier League season. However Dedebit FC sits on top.
Ethio-Electric, Diredawa and Arbaminch are trapped in the relegation zone. Getaneh Kebed of Dedebit and Jimma Aba JIfar’s Okiki Afolabi jointly lead the top scoring chart.
There was too much off field drama: postponement of matches, chaotic referral decisions and inferior performance from many of the teams including defending champion Saint George, so the first round ended with little or no entertaining football.
Dedebit is in the driver’s seat with 29 points and 15 goals from 15 matches while surprise packages Jimma Aba Jifar and Mekele rub shoulders in second place separated by goal differences. AbaJifar has 25 points and six goals while Mekele has 25 points and four goals.
Despite boasting incredible fire power Saint George and Adama are in fourth and fifth place with 23 points each, also separated by goal differences.
Ethio-Electric is struggling to survive with 14 points at the 14th place. The new boss Ashenafi Bekele who is taking the helm is signing new talent.
Simon Abay is coaching Diredawa which is currently 15th with 13 points and Arbaminch stood at 16th place at the bottom. They both will need miracles to stay afloat in the upper tier.
Despite being suspended for four matches, Dedebit’s Getaneh Kebede still is in control of the top scoring spot but he is sharing it with Jimma AbaJifar’s one man strike force Okiki Afolabi. They each have nine goals. Adama’s emerging target man Dawa Hutesa and Electric’s Ghanaian striker Alhasen Kalusha are tied for second place with seven goals each.
