The Ethiopian Football Federation League Committee held the 2016/17 league season draw ceremony for the U-17 and the inaugural U-20 on Tuesday Morning at Capital Hotel and Spa. The U-17 and U-20 Premier League will commence on December 6 at the request of clubs who happened to be in recruiting and data gathering phase.
The maiden Ethiopian U-20 Premier League will be played between 12 clubs. 10 Ethiopian Premier League outfits assembled their youth side to compete in the tourney. The Addis Ababa Football Federation previously organized the youth tourney but it is the first time that the competition is being held on national level.
Ethiopian U-20 Premier League Week 1 Fixtures
Dire Dawa Ketema vs. Kidus Giorgis
Ethiopia Nigd Bank vs. Hawassa Ketema
Adama Ketema vs. Ethiopia Youth Sport Academy
Mekelakeya vs. Dedebit
Ethio-Electric vs. Ethiopia Medhin
Wolaitta Dicha vs. Ethiopia Bunna
The Ethiopia U-17 Premier League attracted 17 clubs across the country. The league will be contested between two groups. Last season winners Hawassa Ketema and Central Zone champions Dedebit are the top seeded clubs. The League Committee and the Discipline Committee presented their respective reports regarding the 2015/16 league season. The league attracted newcomers Adama Foam, Teklebirgan Ambaye Construction and Niyala.
The League Committee further noted league games in Addis Ababa will be played in Medhin, Bank and Gofa fields on Weekends since the Addis Ababa Stadium and Abebe Bikilla Memorial Stadium will be hosting numerous games this season. The Federation also stated games could be moved to Addis Ababa Stadium if the schedule fits. The Federation will also announce if the Ethiopian U-17 Cup will or will not be held on the coming weeks. Some clubs questioned the importance of the Knockout Cup game that put the Federation in a situation to reconsider its initial decision.
Group Winners will battle it out to be crowned champions whilst the third place playoff will be contested between the two group’s runner-ups. The new trend will leave out the old format as stated by the League Committee.
Ethiopian U-17 Premier League
Group A Week 1 Fixtures
Ethiopia Bunna vs. Adama Foam
Mekelakeya vs. Ethiopia Nigd Bank
Hawassa Ketema vs. Wolaitta Dicha
Ethiopia Medhin vs. Afro Tsion Construction
Group B Week 1 Fixtures
Ethiopia Youth Sport Academy vs. Ethio-Electric
Niyala vs. Adama Ketema
Teklebirhan Ambaye Construction vs. Sidama Bunna
Dedebit vs. Addis Ababa Ketema
