CAF Instructor Abraham Mebratu made history as the first ever Ethiopian soccer Coach to lead a foreign national team to the Asian Cup final. “It is incredible to be part of this historic moment and I am grateful to the Ethiopian’s living in Qatar who have supported us by attending every match,” the charming Abraham remarked.
The former Ethiopia Bunna Head coach later turned CAF Instructor has been involved in Yemeni football for the past six years and he has worked miracles there, helping the National Olympic team to its first ever 2013 Asian Olympic championship and then a new chapter after just five years steering the war torn nation to its first ever Asian Continental Cup final.
Despite playing all their home matches in Qatar because of the ongoing conflict in the country, Yemen managed to finish runner-up of the group, two points behind the champion Philippines with ten points from six matches. “It is really very hard to qualify for such a huge tournament fielding exiled players far from home longing for the love of country and family.
“Thanks to the player’s commitment the football loving and humble nation has something to celebrate, we made it in to the Cup final,” Abraham remarked.
The 17th Asian Cup final scheduled to be played in January in the United Arab Emirates, will have an expanded 24-team field, eight more than the previous tournament. Australia, Bahrain, China, India, Iran, Iraq, Japan, Jordan, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Syria, Thailand, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Vietnam are the participants.

The three-time Olympic gold medalist and nine-time world champion is one of the greatest female endurance runners of all-time. Here the 32-year-old Ethiopian legend and reigning Chicago Marathon champion explains her passion for running.
“I was motivated and inspired to run from a young age because of the success my older sisters and my cousin Derartu Tulu (the 1992 and 2000 Olympic 10,000m champion) enjoyed in the sport. I started running at school. I used to win all the races. In fact, I was so successful I was regularly assigned to race against the boys!
“I later developed into a professional runner and enjoyed my first major senior success when winning the World 10,000m title at the 2003 IAAF World Championships in Paris. That was the moment for me when I knew I possessed a gift for running.
“Running has given me so much throughout my life. It is always a thrill for me. It makes me happy and my passion is such that nothing else in life can match that same high I get when running.
“I also love the competitive side of the sport and nothing beats that feeling of winning after putting in many months of hard training in the countdown to a big race.
“Of course, running has also brought its financial rewards and transformed my life and that of my family. I am a country girl from a farm and my success in athletics has allowed me to live a comfortable life in the city of Addis Ababa.
“From my perspective, I cannot imagine a life without running and I would encourage anyone else to run because it is good for your health and it can become a joyful experience in your daily life.’

Who said Ethiopia will be absent from the 2018 Russia World Cup final? Thanks to international arbiter Bamlak Tessema Weyesa, the tri color is to sail at world’s biggest sport stage.
Bamlak is among the six referees selected from Africa to officiate in the FIFA World Cup. According to a statement from FIFA the selected referees will be attending a two weeklong seminar in the Italian FA (FIGC) technical center Coverciano on April 2018. Following the seminar in Coverciano, the Referee Committee of the world football governing body is set to select Video Assistant Referees. A last and final round preparatory seminar will be given out to the selected referees 10 days prior to the World Cup kickoff in Moscow.
Bamlak had a magnificent 2017 as he went on to officiate a major tournament final when he handled the CAF Total Champions League between 8 times African champions Al Ahly and Moroccan outfit Wydad Casablanca. In 2018, he has officiated CHAN games and he will also be handling the CAF Total Confederations Cup 2nd round qualifier between Zambian side Zanaco and Moroccan outfit Raja Casablanca before heading to Italy.
The 38 year-old down to earth Bamlak, kicked-off his international career in 2009 and the record in his 65 international matches gave him the dream-come-true chance making him the third Ethiopian to officiate at World Cup finals next to Tesfaye G/Eyesus and Lulseged Begashaw.