ADDIS ABABA – Following a 2-1 win over Adama City on Sunday the Ethiopian Premier League, EPL, Leaders Mekele Saba Inderta maintained their leadership on 45 points from 21 games, 8 points clear from the second placed Fasil City who enjoyed a 4-0 away win over Mekelakeya at the Addis Ababa stadium.
Last week Mekele faced debacle with a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Bahir Dar City. That defeat slowed their (Mekele) bid to title race but the 2-1 win brought them back to fresh march.
This was the third home defeat for Adama City. Last week Adama City suffered a 2-1 home defeat by Hawassa City.
It seems now the seasons belong to Gebnremedhin Haile who campaigns for the second title running. Gebre made history by winning his first premier league title with Jima Abajifar side last season. Jima won EPL title in their debut, the first in the league’s 22 years history. After Gebre was transferred to Mekele this season he has still been making careful progress towards title. If he succeeds he will be the first coach to earn title two times in a row.
With nine matches to go, Mekele are now close to make it.
Though they are adrift of 8 points, the second placed Fasil City are still trying to keep up pressure from a distance. The newly appointed Coach of Fasil City Wubetu Abate is doing his level best to catch up the leaders. Wubetu has now reached to a point where title win doesn’t only depend on his victory but the far away league leaders must also drop points. Two combinations are highly unlikely to come at one point but his attempt to remain in the title race deserves appreciation.
After sacking their coach Seyoum Kebede, Mekelakeya didn’t show a sign of survival. The 4-0 defeat by Fasil Citywas a big blow to the already deteriorated standing. Mekelakey are now in the relegation zone.
Last week the second placed Fasil City missed the chance of closing in on the gap with league leaders as a result of a 1-1 draw with the visiting side South Police. Fasil kept their second place with 37 points from 21 games.
Bahir Dar City were also devastated with a 5-0 demolition by Coffee at the Addis Ababa stadium on Saturday. Bahir Dar City used to enjoy by upsetting big names like St. George and Coffee in their debut. Even more so, last week they stunned the league leaders Mekele with a 1-0 win but this time they were forced to accept a barrage of goals to be counted against them. Coffee’s fans enjoyed for their sides unrelenting retaliatory punishment of the first round defeat by Bahir Dar.
Still the losers Bahir Dar City collected 32 points to remain in mid-table. Their coach Pawlos Getachew widely known as Mango, said that the pace they are following is quite good in their debut but the 5-0 demolition was indeed a big assault.
Sidama Coffee succeeded in collecting the full three points with a 2-1 home win over Shire Sihul. This was in fact a big revival for Sidama Coffee who suffered a 2-0 defeat at the hands of St. George last week. Sidama are now third in the line on 37 points from 21 games.
The score sheet shows that Sidama Coffee and Fasil City have equal 37 points but they are separated by goal difference.
Shire Sihul who joined the elite league along with Bahir Dar City and South Police still remain in the relegation zone.
Dire Dawa City are jumping up to fully avoid relegation with a 2-1 win over Wolwalo Adigrat University. Last week Dire Dawa City got a 3-2 away victory over Dedebit.
Jima Abajifar also collected the full three points with a 1-0 home win over the bottom side Dedebit. Last week Jima Abajifar had a 2-0 win over the visitors Shire Sihule.
The new scenario that was seen this week was the interruption of two games scheduled to take place at Hawassa international stadium.
On Saturday South Police and Wolayita Dicha set to play at Hawassa but it was interrupted due to crowed disturbance from the start. Police reported that they decided to interrupt the game before clashes went beyond their (Police) control.
The next day, Sunday, Hawassa City and Saint George were to play on the same venue. The regional Police decided to postpone the play before it starts claiming that things will go beyond their control if the game takes place as planned.
Well, it is good looking to the possible danger in advance but it is equally good to consider interruption of games is not a solution to avoid crowed disturbance.
The experience in Europe and elsewhere shows that crowed disturbance is avoided by strengthening the Police force supported by security cameras fixed in and outside of the stadium. Plus, the federation must impose harsh punishment including point reduction and playing in a closed stadium.
Herald April 23/2019
BY SOLOMON BEKELE
