ADDIS ABABA – Saint George will host the league leaders Mekele Saba Inderta today, Tuesday, at the Addis Ababa stadium. Mekele have 45 points from 21 games while St. George stand fifth on 33 points from equal 21 games.
This match is decisive for both the league leaders and fifth placed sides to better their title bid. For St. George it will be difficult to catch up the leaders unless they collect the full three points today on home ground.
The same logic applies to Mekele. Unless they win today their (Mekele Saba Inderta) campaign to the title are likely to face difficulties. So far the campaign of Mekele is in good track.
Same day, second placed Fasil City will host Dire Dawa City at Gondar arena. Fasil City have 37 points while Dire Dawa City are 10th in the line up on 28 points from equal 21 games. For Fasil this match will be a do or die affairs. A win will keep their chance of catching the league leaders Mekele if they drop points.
The third placed Sidama Coffee will travel to Jimma to face the defending champions Jimma Abajifar. Sidama have equal 37 points with Fasil City but the two are separated by goal difference. Jimma Abajifar are fourth in the line-up on 34 points.
The today’s clash is equally decisive for Sidama Coffee as they aspire to get title for the first time in their short EPL history.
The 6th placed Coffee will face the 11th placed Adama City at Adama. Coffee have 32 points while Adama City have 26.
Coffee’s chance of catching up the leaders seems bleak but a win in today’s match is helpful to keep the pace.
The eighth placed Wolwalo Adigrat University will entertain the bottom side Dedebit. Wowalo have 30 points while the bottom side Dedebit collected only 10 points from 21 games.
Defeat will further speed up their relegation march for Dedebit. Wolwalo need the full three points in order to fully avoid the relegation threat.
Sihul Shire will host Hawasa City who are 9th in the line-up on 29 points. Sihul Shire are now second from the bottom on 16 points.
Sihl Shire have the chance to avoid relegation if they manage to collect points hereafter. Due to this their today’s mission is escaping the dangerous zone.
Mekelakeya will travel to Wolayita Sodo to face the home side Wolayita Dicha who now stand 12th on 23 points. Mekelakeya are in the relegation zone (14th) on 18 points.
Mekelakeya sacked their coach Seyoum Kebede a couple of weeks ago to make a survival attempt with a new coach but it seems that didn’t work because they lost both matches in the wake of Seyoum’s departure. Unless they gain quick recovery it is hard to avoid relegation.
Bahir Dar City will take on South Police who are 13th in the table on 18 points. Mekelakeya and South Police are separated by goal difference.
Bahir Dar City and South Police joined the elite league at the beginning of this season. The performance of Bahir Dar City has been much better than South Police until now.
Amanuel Gebremichael of Mekele Saba Inderta is the leading scorer with 13 goals while Addis Gidey of Sidama Coffee comes next on 12 goals. The Mekelakeya Minyahil Wondimu takes the third place on 11 goals registered under his name.
The Ethiopian Herald April 30/2019
BY SOLOMON BEKELE
