The Ethiopian Football Federation (EFF) is on the verge of appointing Instructor Abraham Mebratu as the new head trainer of the senior national side. The Federation at the start of the week has revealed a five man shortlist for the Waliyas job.
The Technical Committee of EFF has presented the shortlisted coaches to the Executive Committee on Tuesday. The five coaches are Abraham Mebratu, Hawassa Ketema coach Webetu Abate, Jimma Aba Jifar trainer Gebremedhin Haile, Mekelakeya head coach Seyoum Kebede and Wolwalo Adigrat University boss Tsegaye Kidanemariam. The ExCo has selected Abraham to be the next Waliyas coach.
Abraham managed to lead the war-torn Yemen to the 2019 AFC Asian Cup finals under a dire situation. Yemen FA is facing a financial constraint to commence preparation for the Asia Cup which is due in the United Arab Emirates. Abraham is said to be leaving his post as coach of Yemen. Nonetheless, the former Yemen FA Technical Director has set preconditions that EFF must fulfill if he is to be Ethiopia’s coach.
Abraham, who happened to be a CAF Coaching Instructor, has been working in Yemen since 2008. He has held different positions whilst he was in Yemen. Prior to leading the Yemen national team to a major tournament he has coached the Yemen U-23 side that reached the Asian U-23 Cup in 2013.
EFF made Webetu Abate the backup choice with the other three candidates seemingly overlooked by the Technical Committee. Soccer Ethiopia has learnt none of the shortlisted coaches had submitted their resume to the Federation.
Waliyas have been without a coach since December 2017 following Ashenafi Bekele’s resignation from the helm. The Ethiopian national side last played a competitive game in December last year in the CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup group stage encounter against Uganda in Kakamega, Kenya. The Waliyas opened their AfCON qualifier campaign on the wrong foot after losing 5-0 to Ghana in Kumasi. Ethiopia will play Sierra Leone in Group F tie this August before locking horns in a doubleheader against neighbor’s Kenya.
