Ethiopian Premier League Returns
The Ethiopian Match Referees and Commissioners Association have agreed to halt their weeklong strike as leagues organized by the EFF expected to resume on the coming Monday with outstanding games from week 17 and 18. The topflight league was suspended following an assault on Federal Arbiter Eyasu Fente by Wolwalo Adigrat University former team leader Maru.
FIFA and CAF
The EFF head of national referee committee and executive commitee member Leulsegede Begashaw has stated the world football governing body and CAF have sought notification from the Federation on the Mekelakeya and Wolwalo Adigrat University game where a match official was attacked. The incident was caught on camera as the video footage of the fiasco went viral. Both FIFA and CAF is said to be closely following the development; nevertheless EFF head Juneidi Basha told the local press that he is unaware of letters written to the federation from FIFA an CAF regarding the incident.
Lidiya Tafesse
Ethiopian arbiter Lidiya Tafesse has been appointed to officiate in the upcoming FIFA Women’s U-20 World Cup which is due in France. The U-20 World Cup slated for August 2018 as Lidiya makes a return to officiating international tournaments. She is among 15 referees that have been selected by FIFA for the World Cup. According to a statement from the world football governing body the referees are appointed to officiate based on their experience in their association and confederation competitions, as well as their levels of fitness and ability to read the game. The experienced match official Lidiya previously handled matches in the 2017 FIFA U-17 Girls World Cup, the 2016 African Women Cup of Nations and she was a fourth official in the 2015 FIFA Women World Cup which was hosted in Canada.
EFF Polls
The newly appointed Electoral Committee of EFF have confirmed June 3 as Election Day. The Committee have also revealed the time frame for the whole election process.
May 18 – The final day to submit names of candidates
May 19 – 21 – Vetting of the proposed candidates
May 22 – Revealing list of candidates for the presidential and executive committee membership race
May 23 -25 – Processing of appeals and complaints from the initial list
May 28 – Final list of candidates to be made official
June 3 – Election Day
Lucy
The Ethiopian women national team might break camp following the postponement of the CECAFA Women Championship. The Championship’s kick off date was pushed after hosts Rwanda failed to secure funds from CECAFA to organize the competition. Lucy have been in residential camp since last week. The African Women Cup of Nations qualifier doubleheader against Algeria is fast approaching making the cash strapped EFF in dilemma as breaking camp seems to be the only option. The decision might not be taken well by head trainer Selam Zereaye and her charges who are aiming to book a place in the AWCON for the first time since 2012.
Teshome Tadesse
ArbaMinch Ketema striker Teshome Tadesse bemoans on the lack of financial aid from his employers after he sustained a serious injury in 2017. The forward was forced to pay his hospital bills even though he was still under contract with the Crocodiles. ArbaMinch Ketema general manager Tadios Chemesa told Soccer Ethiopia that the club is working to help out Teshome. Tadios admitted Teshome should be compensated for the costs he incurred and unpaid salaries while he was in layoff due to injury.
Sidama Bunna
Ethiopian topflight side Sidama Bunna have parted ways with Ghanaian attacking midfielder Kennedy Ashia and Equatorial Guinean defender Mohammed Ben Konate for a poor showing and failing to attend training sessions in the last 10 days. The players joined the Yirgalem based side at the start of the season as Konate made few appearances in the league while the former Al Hilal player Ashia spent much of his time being a bench warmer.
Sidama Bunna joins the growing list of clubs that released non-Ethiopian players in the 2017/18 season. ArbaMinch Ketema, Wolaitta Dicha, Kidus Giorgis, Mekele Ketema, Wolwalo Adigrat University and Fasil Ketema are some of the topflight sides that fired underperforming foreign players.
