​The 2017/18 Premier League Season Opener Pushed Back as League Fixtures Announced

The Ethiopian Football Federation have yet again pushed back the kick off date of the 2017/18 Premier League season to October 30, citing the pretty bad condition of the Addis Ababa Stadium playing surface. 

The Federation repeatedly expressed the weather condition is the main reason for the postponement of the league. October 14 was previously scheduled to be the season opener; nevertheless, it was pushed back to October 21. Reports from the Federation stated that the kickoff date might be yet again pushed to November 6, if the rainy weather persists.

The Federation oftentimes criticized by the Ethiopian football faithful for the lack of organization in scheduling league games. Postponements of league dates in Ethiopia have become a tradition that the Federation built a bad reputation on it.

The fixtures for the first round of the 2017/18 season were also announced in a ceremony held at Jupiter Hotel earlier on Monday, September 25. Kidus Giorgis will start their title defense at home against Easterners Dire Dawa Ketema. Giorgis’s cross city rivals Ethiopia Bunna are also at home as they lock horn against Sidama Bunna. Newcomers Welwalo Adigrat University are up against the 2016/17 league season surprise packages Fasil Ketema while Hawassa Ketema visits newbies Jimma Abba Jifar, formerly Jimma Ketema.

Week 1 Fixtures

Ethio-Electric vs. Mekelakeya

Ethiopia Bunna vs. Sidama Bunna

ArbaMinch Ketema vs. Mekele Ketema

Wewalo Adigrat University vs. Fasil Ketema

Kidus Giorgis vs. Dire Dawa Ketema

Jimma Abba Jifar vs. Hawassa Ketema

Woldia SC vs. Adama Ketema

Dedebit vs. Wolaitta Dicha

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