Ethiopia will kick start their CECAFA Cup campaign later on this afternoon as they tackle regional minnows South Sudan in Bukhuungu Stadium on December 4. The Waliya Antelopes have been in Kakamega, Western Kenyan town which is found in Kakamega County, since last Thursday.
Ethiopia coach Ashenafi Bekele told Soccer Ethiopia that there will not be free ride when his charges lock horns against a much unknown South Sudan side. “The competition will not be so easy because they (South Sudan) come to the game fresh and energetic. It won’t be easy as we expect them to give us a stiff competition on our opening fixture. They will be coming to take maximum points so as we are also in Kakamega to win games,” Ashenafi states.
The Ethiopian trainer further noted he don’t have a profound info regarding the opposition but expects them to deploy an attacking strategy between the lines. “Most foreign sides usually play on flanks. Their attacks originate from the wings and we have seen these things in the last two CECAFA Cup games which were staged in Kakamega. So we planned to close down that channel but again we don’t have much information about the South Sudan national team. We will try to adjust our style during the game.”
Ethiopia won’t be getting the service of Tesfaye Alebachew, who made a comeback from injury. The Woldia SC midfielder is recuperating and will soon resume full scale training with the national side. Apart from Tesfaye the 22 players are in great shape as confirmed by coach Ashenafi. Tesfaye has been training alone when the rest of the squad engaged in a light training session conducted at the Kakamega School on Monday morning.
It is for the third time that Ethiopia will be taking on South Sudan in CECAFA outings since South Sudan got independence from Sudan in 2011. Ethiopia still has the upper hand by winning twice against their today’s opponents.
