After four rounds in the 2017/18 premier league season Ethiopia Bunna sits at the summit of the log table with 7 points. The week started off with a goal drought on Saturday in Addis Ababa and Dire Dawa. Newcomers Welwalo Adigrat University and Mekele Ketema registered maiden league wins on Sunday. Reigning champions Kidus Giorgis have also bounced back to defeat Sidama Bunna 1-0 on Tuesday, November 28.
Mekelakeya surprisingly persisted on their winless streak when they were stalled by Adama Ketema to a goalless draw in Addis. Few scoring chances and ambitious goal attempts from range were highlights of the dull game. The Army side has been in their worst start of the season in recent years as Adama registered their second draw in four games.
A very defensive Dire Dawa Ketema side holds Dedebit to a barren draw on the other Saturday encounter. The homers were the dominant force only for the early exchanges but faded away half way through to the tie. As the Mekelakeya and Adama game, scoring opportunities were hard to get by; although, the Easterners coach Zelalem Shiferaw played down claims that his side is very defensive.
A late Abdelrahman Mubarak spot kick could have handed Fasil Ketema the bragging right in the Amhara Derby over Woldia SC in Gondar. A Fasiledes Stadium full to the brim both sides were on look out for a win but they settled for a goalless draw. Abdelrahman missed a penalty kick three minutes before time.
In another derby duel Hawassa Ketema emerged victorious over Wolaitta Dicha in Hawassa. The Lakers sealed the win three minutes before time courtesy goal from Cameroon import Yabuen William. Following William’s match winner header a crowd trouble and scene of hooliganism was observed as fans were injured when objects and missiles were thrown Hawassa Ketema Stadium. Dicha’s midfielder Haimanot Worku, who piled his trade for Hawassa last season, was red carded in the second interval. Both sides’ coaches, Webetu Abate and Mesaye Teferi denounced the unsupportive behavior in their post-match presser.
Welwalo Adigrat University caused an upset when they thrashed Ethio-Electric 3-1 in Addis Ababa. Burkinabe striker Prince Severin Waongo gave Welwalo the lead in the first interval before Bereket Tessema and Afewerk Hailu gave the visitors an unexpected 3-0 lead at the hour mark. Kalusha Al-Hassan reduced the deficit later on but Ethio-Electric fall to Welwalo at home. Electric’s skipper Addis Negash shown his marching order for punching Kedir Salih in the 54th minute.
A Yared Kebede perfect header was enough to hand Mekele Ketema a win over Jimma Aba Jifar in a packed Tigray Stadium. More than 50,000 spectators attended the tie in the stadia. Alemneh Girma’s cross was headed in by unmarked Yared 11 minutes into the game as Yohannis Shale’s charges collect maximum points. Jimma Aba Jifar suffered their third successive loss in four games.
Ethiopia Bunna beat strugglers ArbaMinch Ketema 2-0 to go top of the league. New signing Bereket Yisak got the nod to start ahead of Manye Fantu and struck his first goal for Bunna at the half hour mark. ArbaMinch players contested the goal. Ghanaian defender Alex Amuzu turned into his own net after the resumption to give Bunna a second win of the season.
Holders Kidus Giorgis returned to winning ways as they pip Sidama Bunna 1-0 in Yirgalem to extend their overall head-to-head superiority. Mujahed Mohammed struck an own goal in the 30th minute to break the deadlock. The homers were the better side but lacked attacking proficiency. Sidama Bunna squandered scoring chances that eventually cost them to test defeat at home. Kidus Giorgis remains unbeaten in Yirgalem against hosts Sidama Bunna.
Ethiopia Bunna tops the league with 7 points and a game on hand. Welwalo, Hawassa, Mekele and Dedebit follow with 6 points. Kidus Giorgis sits 10th with 4 points and two games on hand whilst Jimma Aba Jifar, Mekelakeya and ArbaMinch Ketema are in the drop zone.
Week 4 Results
Saturday, November 25/2017
Dire Dawa Ketema 0-0 Dedebit
Mekelakeya 0-0Adama Ketema
Sunday, November 26/2017
Ethio-Electric 1-3 Welwalo Adigrat University
Hawassa Ketema 1-0 Wolaitta Dicha
Fasil Ketema 0-0 Woldia SC
Mekele Ketema 1-0 Jimma Aba Jifar
Monday, November 27/2017
Ethiopia Bunna 2-0 ArbaMinch Ketema
Tuesday, November 28/2017
Sidama Bunna 0-1 Kidus Giorgis
Week 5 Fixtures
Sunday, December 2/2017
03:00 Adama Ketema vs. Hawassa Ketema (Adama Abebe Bikila Stadium)
03:00 Woldia SC vs. Mekele Ketema (Mohammed Hussein Ali Al-Amoudi Stadium)
03:00 ArbaMinch Ketema vs. Mekelakeya (ArbaMinch)
03:00 Welwalo Adigrat University vs. Ethiopia Bunna (Adigrat)
03:00 Wolaitta Dicha vs. Dire Dawa Ketema (Sodo)
03:00 Jimma Aba Jifar vs. Sidama Bunna (Jimma Stadium)
Monday, December 3/2017
3:00 – Kidus Giorgis vs. Ethio-Electric (Addis Ababa Stadium)
5:30 – Dedebit vs. Fasil Ketema (Addis Ababa Stadium)
