Premier league side Jimma Aba Jifar has successfully negotiated for the return of Ghanaian shot stopper Daniel Agyei. The 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup winning goalie went missing after featuring in the opening three weeks of the topflight league. The club confirmed that the custodian has returned to join the squad; Agyei will leave for Amsterdam every month as part of a court case. It is reported that Agyei has settled his custody battle but he needs to travel to Holland frequently to visit his daughter. The goalie could be ready to face league leaders Dedebit on Wednesday, January 31 on week 13 fixture.
Ethiopian international Shemeles Bekele captained Petrojet for a second game running in Egyptian Premier League week 20 tie in Suez against ENPPI. Petrojet won the duel 1-0 courtesy of a late goal from Alaaeldin Aly. Shemelese amassed 92 minutes before he made way to Moroccan attacker Omar Najdi. The ex Hawassa Ketema and Kidus Giorgis creative midfielder has also captained Petrojet on week 19 encounter against third placed Al Masry. Petrojet are 12th with 24 points in the log table.
Wolaitta Dicha has hired Zenebe Fisseha on permanent basis late Wednesday. The Sodo outfit fired longtime serving coach Mesaye Teferi December last year as Zenebe, a former Ethiopian youth international, took over the helm. Zenebe led Dicha to a 4 games unbeaten run while the Total CAF Confederations Cup bound side made a stride to get out of the relegation zone. Zenebe last season led the Wolaitta Dicha junior side to an Ethiopian U-17 Cup triumph.
The proposed transfer of Ethiopian midfielder Gatoch Panom to Egyptian side Wadi Degla SC failed to materialize. Gatoch’s agent David Beshah confirmed to Soccer Ethiopia that acquiring a visa to Egypt took too long as the player failed to finish his move last week and the move is now off. David alluded that they are still in search of clubs abroad before the transfer window ends.
The Coca Cola FIFA World Cup Trophy will return to Addis Ababa after 8 years. The trophy is scheduled to tour 91 cities across 51 countries. The World Cup trophy will be open for a visit to the Ethiopian football fraternity in Addis on February 24 and 25. The trophy previously toured the country in 2010. The tour has already kick started from Sri Lanka capital Colombo two days ago on January 23.
Fasil Ketema FC board has decided to continue with head trainer Menetesnote Getu. Coach Menetesnote has been under fire after his charges lost back to back league games at the hands of defending champions Kidus Giorgis and Sidama Bunna. The board warned the coaching staff to step up their game and bounce back to winning ways. The Gondar outfit has outlined poor player’s management and unimpressive results as setbacks on a meeting held on Wednesday. Fasil Ketema could manage to win only three league matches while drawing on seven occasions and losing two games to sit 7th with 16 points, 9 points shy of table toppers Dedebit.
Welwalo Adigrat University and Coach Birhane Gebreegziabher have parted ways on mutual consent. Birhane guided the Adigrat side to their first ever premier league promotion but problems within the club pushed away the coach from the hot sit. The club started off their maiden league campaign on high note as they topped the table after five rounds. The Yellows could not keep the momentum as they failed to secure maximum points in their last seven league games. He is tipped take over Dire Dawa Ketema as Welwalo shortlisted five coaches to replace him.
Veteran Ethiopian coach Seyoum Abate is reportedly admitted to Tikur Anbesa Hospital through lung infection. The former national team and Ethiopia Bunna boss is now recuperating well as his younger brother Solomon Abate confirmed to Soccer Ethiopia. Solomon said Seyoum was in ICU care but now he is doing much better in the last few days.
The Ethiopian Higher League matches pitting Amhara and Tigray club are all moved to Addis Ababa, EFF confirmed. The games are moved due to security concerns. Although the games are moved to the capital, the forthcoming tie between Bahirdar Ketema and Shire Endaselassie will be staged at Legtafo on Sunday. It can be recalled that the toptier league games between the two regional state clubs were played in Addis.
Wolaitta Dicha confirmed Hawassa International Stadium as their home ground for the Total CAF Confederations Cup games. The Sodo based club will tackle Zanzibar side Zimamoto FC in the preliminary round on February. Hawassa International Stadium hosted continental games in the last few years including the 2015 CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup, African Cup of Nations qualifier, FIFA Girls U-20 World Cup African zone qualifier, African Nations Championship qualifier and Total Champions League preliminary round games. Wolaitta Dicha are competing in their first ever CAF club tournament.
The 2017/18 Ethiopian Premier League week 13 duels will be played across the country on the coming weekends. Second placed Kidus Giorgis will have a daunting task to secure maximum points away to Sodo when they face Wolaitta Dicha, whom are unbeaten in four league games. Strugglers Dire Dawa Ketema and Ethiopia Bunna face off in Dire Dawa while it is a South Derby between Hawassa Ketema and ArbaMinch Ketema. League leaders Dedebit hosts Jimma Aba Jifar next Wednesday. The game between Woldia SC and Mekelakeya is postponed to February 25.
Week 13 Fixtures
Saturday, January 27/2018
3:00 – Hawassa Ketema vs. ArbaMinch Ketema
3:00 – Wolaitta Dicha vs. Kidus Giorgis
4:00 – Dire Dawa Ketema vs. Ethiopia Bunna
Sunday, January 28/2018
3:00 – Adama Ketema vs. Welwalo Adigrat University
3:00 – Fasil Ketema vs. Ethio-Electric
3:00 – Mekele Ketema vs. Sidama Bunna
Wednesday, January 31/2018
5:00 – Dedebit vs. Jimma Aba Jifar
Sunday, February 25/2018
3:00 – Woldia SC vs. Mekelakeya
