Premier league bottom sides Hadiya Hossana and Diredawa Ketema both felt a change in their coaching staff is the way to heal from their dreadful half season display.
Hadiya Hossana, currently placed bottom of the league with 9 points lost 2-1 against Sebeta Ketema in game week 12 of the league while DireDawa are currently 15th, 4 points adrift from Hossana, also suffered a 3-0 loss at the hands of Wolaita Dicha. The sacking of the two trainers was seemingly inevitable for most following their unsatisfactory results so far.
Things were not looking good for Hadiya Hossana, as the southern Ethiopian side only won twice this season, drawing three, and losing the remaining seven games. Knowing the quality they possess in their deluxe XI, they seem to be missing a certain chemistry to return the side to winning ways.
Girma Taddese, the Ethiopian Higher League specialist earned back to back promotions to the premier league with Debub Police & Hadiya Hossana, but seems to struggle in the top tier as his track record speaks. As a result, the club choose to suspend the coach from his duty before assigning a replacement. Apart from Girma, the club’s assistant and goalkepping coach were also suspended. The club’s physioterapist Biniam Tefera is expected to lead the team as a caretacker coach until the club either reinstates Girma, or finds a permanent replacement.
Diredawa Ketema’s trainer Simon Abay left the eastern Ethiopian side after three years. He had been working with the Oranges since 2017/18 at different capacities and had been promoted to the head trainer post starting from the middle of 2018/19 season.
Diredawa’s summer recruitments have been far from convincing as the summer transfer window saw an exodus of integral players. Based on their display thus far, most of their summer recruits, apart from players raised through the club’s youth ranks, can be labeled as flops.
The only success story for Simon’s tenure would be promoting local talents to the senior side. Following the coach’s departure, the club’s assistant coach Fisseha Teumelisan will take charge of the side for the remaining 3 fixtures before the half season mark, with a new permanent head coach expected to be named before the start of the second round games of the Ethiopian Premier league.
Diredawa joined Wolaita Dicha, who previously sacked their trainer Gebrekristos Birara, as the second side to part ways with their coach. Should Girma Taddesse’s suspension turn into a sacking, Hadiya Hossana will be joining them as the third club on the list.
©Soccer Ethiopia
