Despite a chaotic season full of controversies and horrific disciplinary incidents including the knocking out of referees, the title race stands as the recent times most crowded title races with no less than seven sides plotting for the crown. Three sides: newly promoted Jimma AbaJIfar, Mekele Ketema and the defending champion Kidus Giorgis appeared heavy weights boasting huge fire powers.
The two new comers Jimma AbaJIfar and Mekele Ketema are currently leading the league table with AbaJifar claiming the top spot four points clear off second place Mekele Ketema with two games in hand. Six points down yet with two games in hand Kidus Giorgis is fourth in the table.
Having the deadliest strike force of the league with 26 goals out of which 14 in the name of Nigerian Okikola Afolabi, AbaJifar have real potential to go all the way through the title contention. Boss Gebremedhin has built the best of squads in his carrier, well organized defense backed by magnificent goalie. Four wins and two draws in the past five matches this may be time to AbaJifar to write new chapter.
Only two defeats in 16 consecutive matches, Amanuel G/Michael and Ghanaian Bismark Opong leading the strike force each hammering in six, Coach Yohannes Sahle appears in performance of a champion conceding only eight goals in as much as the games. Adding a strong mid field presence former Ethiopia Bunna skipper Gatoch Panom in mid-season, Mekele has everything but championship experience is what it lacks.
A single win in the past five matches third place Dedebit in a slip, fourth place KIdus Giorgis is still the team to beat in order to clinch the crown. Two matches in hand “The Horse Riders’” abundant experience in snatching away titles from the mouth of contenders, a six point difference might not be too difficult to jump over.
Eight fixtures to go and teams performance swaying every week ends, the prediction may be a bit earlier. But with what the record shows the three appear real title contenders with the remaining four capable of any surprise.

A shocking away defeat at the hands of relegation threatened Arbaminch Ketema on Monday heralded that defending champions Kidus Giorgis’ dream of unprecedented five consecutive Premier League Titles is in danger. Though Dedebit appeared to fade away from strong title contention, newly promoted sides Jimma AbaJifar and Mekele Ketema are showing some character that this time they are up for their first ever league title.
An experienced head trainer Carlos Pinto from Portugal holding the reign and three of the five foreign players including Ghanaian debutant striker Richard Appiah in action against a side that has no foreign player and led by active goalie Jackson Fita, the question why an overseas footballers are here to sign a seven figure salary is getting stronger.
A first minute opener then the second at the 38th followed by the third six minutes later, by the time Pinto brought in full back Abebaw Butako at 48th minute followed by Appiah in the 52nd and veteran die hard Adane Girma at the 67th, the hosts had already camped back on their own half with solid defense. Add two missed golden chances from Berhanu Adamu the goal tally would have even gone higher. Such a three star complete domination is hard to accept for Kidus Giorgis.
Pinto was expected to come up with some ideas to reverse the situation even before the break for it is a rare chance in Ethiopian Football to come back in away match let alone with a three goals advantage. Teams from the south appeared the wisest against Giorgis: Dicha broke the champions’ unbeaten eight matches run then Hawassa Ketema’s 4-1 home demolition and now a 3-0 away defeat to the Alligators that lost three nil in their earlier game against Welwalo Adigrat. It must be some curse from aback.
Though Giorgis are still in the title race currently fourth in the table with 33 points and two matches in hand that is five points from AbaJifar with 38 and second place Mekele Ketema with 35 points and two games in hand. The two sides are showing no wavering in their recent performances thus it is no easier to a record consecutive five league titles.