The Ethiopian Football Federation have yet again pushed back the kick off date of the 2017/18 Premier League season to October 30, citing the pretty bad condition of the Addis Ababa Stadium playing surface.
The Federation repeatedly expressed the weather condition is the main reason for the postponement of the league. October 14 was previously scheduled to be the season opener; nevertheless, it was pushed back to October 21. Reports from the Federation stated that the kickoff date might be yet again pushed to November 6, if the rainy weather persists.
The Federation oftentimes criticized by the Ethiopian football faithful for the lack of organization in scheduling league games. Postponements of league dates in Ethiopia have become a tradition that the Federation built a bad reputation on it.
The fixtures for the first round of the 2017/18 season were also announced in a ceremony held at Jupiter Hotel earlier on Monday, September 25. Kidus Giorgis will start their title defense at home against Easterners Dire Dawa Ketema. Giorgis’s cross city rivals Ethiopia Bunna are also at home as they lock horn against Sidama Bunna. Newcomers Welwalo Adigrat University are up against the 2016/17 league season surprise packages Fasil Ketema while Hawassa Ketema visits newbies Jimma Abba Jifar, formerly Jimma Ketema.
Week 1 Fixtures
Ethio-Electric vs. Mekelakeya
Ethiopia Bunna vs. Sidama Bunna
ArbaMinch Ketema vs. Mekele Ketema
Wewalo Adigrat University vs. Fasil Ketema
Kidus Giorgis vs. Dire Dawa Ketema
Jimma Abba Jifar vs. Hawassa Ketema
Woldia SC vs. Adama Ketema
Dedebit vs. Wolaitta Dicha
