Sidama Bunna
Ethiopian premier league side Sidama Bunna and head trainer Alemayehu Abayneh have parted ways in a mutual consent. The Yirgalem based club confirmed Alemayehu’s assistant Zereaye Mulu will take on the hot seat for the reminder of the season. Coach Alemayehu has fall out with the club management and a quarrel with midfielder Yosef Yohannis led to his exit. Yosef has also been fired by the club. Coach Alemayehu joined Sidama from ArbaMinch Ketema and was an assistant to Zelalem Shiferaw.
Temesgen Dana
Ethiopian Football Federation has named Temsgen Dana as the new Ethiopian U-17 national side coach. The Hawassa Ketema U-20 trainer takes the helm from Atanfu Alemu, who was promoted to the U-20 national team last week. Temesgen has become influential in youth football in the last couple of years as he guided the junior side of Hawassa to a league triumph in U-17 and the inaugural U-20 league. The 13th edition of the African U-17 Nations Cup will be hosted in Tanzania as the Red Foxes hope to qualify for the first time after 1997. Following the decision of CAF ExCo last year the Zonal Unions will have the mandate to organize the qualifiers. Ethiopia knocked out the last edition’s tournament on the final qualifying hurdle following a two leg defeat to eventual African champions Mali.
Woldia
Woldia SC has fined three of their players for failing to show up to training sessions after a multiple attempts. The club was temporarily disbanded two months ago as some of the players left the town and declined to return back. Woldia fined Fitsum Gebremariam, Tadele Miherete and Yared Birhanu 150,000 Birr and suspended them for 2 years.
Salahdin Seid
Kidus Giorgis striker Salahdin Said’s injury relapsed yet again. Salahdin was brought on to play KCCA of Uganda in CAF Total Champions League first round encounter last week as he appeared for the first time this season. The striker will be heading to Germany for further and better treatment.
Lucy
Ethiopian women national team head coach Selam Zereaye has trimmed the provisional squad to 25 players. Coach Selam dropped 11 players after commencing training on March 3. Genete Aklilu, Shebere Kanbo, Estegenete Bizuneh, Tsion Estifanos, Medina Jemal, Alemnesh Geremew, Melat Demeke, Lidete Toloa, Bethlehem Seman, Fozia Mohammed and Tizeta Fetene are the players that are dropped today. Lucy will be facing Libya in African Women Cup of Nations first round qualifier.
Final Squad:
Goalkeepers:
Martha Bekele (Mekelakeya), Abaynesh Ereqelo (Hawassa Ketema), Tigest Abera (Ethiopia Nigd Bank)
Defenders:
Meselu Abera, Bizuayehu Tadesse (both from Kidus Giorgis), Tseganesh Teshome (Dire Dawa Ketema), Zeleka Assefa, Meskerem Kanko (both from Dedebit), Bethlehem Kefyalew (Ethio-Electric), Tarikuwa Bediso (Ethiopia Nigd Bank), Geneme Worku (Gedio Dilla)
Midfielders:
Senayit Bogale, Biruktawit Girma (both from Dedebit), Aregashe Likesa (Ethiopian Youth Sports Academy), Zuleka Juhad, Hiwot Dengiso (both from Ethiopia Nigd Bank), Emebete Addisu (Mekelakeya)
Forwards:
Mirekat Feleke (Hawassa Ketema), Loza Abera, Tigest Zewede (both from Dedebit), Senaf Waquma (Adama Ketema), Rehima Zerega (Ethiopia Nigd Bank), Serkaddis Guta (Adama Ketema), Sisay Gebrewelde (Ethiopian Youth Sports Academy)
Premier League
The Ethiopian Premier League half season assessment and report presentation was held today at Jupiter Hotel in Addis Ababa. Out of the 16 clubs, ArbaMinch Ketema failed to send a representative while the other 15 clubs were present. Bad officiating, flawed match commissioner reports and security concerns top the assessment amongst other things. The second half of the league season will kick start next week.
EFF Cup
The 2018 EFF Cup first round fixture draw was made earlier today in Addis Ababa. Holders Wolaitta Dicha are pitted against Kidus Giorgis as Ethiopia Bunna hosts Woldia. Last year finalists Mekelakeya are up against Dire Dawa Ketema. The winner will represent Ethiopia in the 2019 Total CAF Confederations Cup. The Federations effort to include Higher League and National League clubs was no to avail.
Full Draw
First Round
Ethiopia Bunna vs. Woldia SC (Addis Ababa)
Welwalo Adigrat University vs. ArbaMinch Ketema (Adigrat)
Fasil Ketema vs. Adama Ketema (Gondar)
Jimma Aba Jifar vs. Dedebit (Jimma)
Hawassa Ketema vs. Sidama Bunna (Hawassa)
Kidus Giorgis vs. Wolaitta Dicha (Addis Ababa)
Ethio-Electric vs. Mekele Ketema (Addis Ababa)
Mekelakeya vs. Dire Dawa Ketema (Addis Ababa)
Transfer News
Welwalo Adigrat University has released four players and signed three players. The Adigrat side has completed the signing of Alemneh Geremew, Manaye Fantu and Ghanaian Richmond Adong. The premier league newbies has terminated the contracts of Biruk Ayele, Eyob Woldemariam, Biniyam Ayele and Belete Tesfaye.
CAF Confederations Cup bound Wolaitta Dicha has acquired the services of midfielder Tadios Wolde and left back Tsegaye Balcha. Tadios failed to agree on personal terms with Welwalo in what could be a reunion with former trainer Tsegaye Kidanemariam. Tsegaye joins the Sodo based side from Sidama Bunna.
Former Ethiopia Bunna midfielder Dawit Estifanos has agreed to join Mekelakeya. The creative midfielder left Fasil Ketema on a mutual consent as he set to join the Army side for the second half of the season.
After months of absence from competitive football ex-Bank striker Bereket Addisu has signed for ArbaMinch Ketema. The forward was suspended by Sidama Bunna for 2 seasons with unsupportive behavior.
Bereket Yisak has left Ethiopia Bunna to join Dire Dawa Ketema. The striker was shown the exit door from the Addis Ababa outfit as a result of poor form.
Fasil Ketema has captured the signing of Ugandan striker Hamis Kiiza. The former Young Africans and Simba front man put pen to paper a one year deal.
Higher League
In the Ethiopian Higher League rescheduled games Shire Endaselassie and Wollo Kombolcha emerged victorious over Dessie Ketema and Axum Ketema. Shire defeats strugglers Dessie 2-1 at Omedla ground. Jialo Shafi gave Shire the lead before Biniyam Getachew equalized in the 34th minute. Said Hussein grabbed the second for the homers as they prevailed a 2-1 winners to sit third with 24 points in the log table. Dessie are 14th with 8 points. Wollo Kombolcha trounced Axum Ketema 3-0. A dominant display from the Kombolcha side gave them a resounding victory. Henok Tilahun got a brace while veteran player Asrat Shegere added the other one. Wollo occupies 13th with 8 points while Axum are 11th with 13 points. Bahirdar Ketema tops Group A with 25 points. Debub Police are ahead in Group B with 23 points.
