ADDIS ABABA – The former East African youth Table Tennis Champion Kebede Mulugeta died on Sunday while taking medical treatment at hospital.
Kebede was the first young Ethiopian to emerge the East African Table Tennis Champion in the Kenyan capital Nairobi in 1974. After his victory in Nairobi, no other Ethiopian succeeded in taking the junior title. He got that talent at the then YMCA. After he retired from playing table tennis at the local level he began his coaching career where he served until his death.
As a national team coach he travelled in different countries guiding the Ethiopian women’s and men’s table tennis national teams. Grew up at the former YMCA his fast and attractive playing style made him one of the most popular young table tennis player at his young age. He has also table tennis training centres at the juventus club in Addis Ababa.
With the intention to promote table tennis in the country he had also prepared the playing grounds in different hotels. Kebede is remembered as a pioneer in winning title of the junior championship for the Ethiopian table tennis players until now.
The Ethiopian Herald, March 19/2019
