ADDIS ABABA – Following the death of the Army Chief Of Staff General Tsaire Mekonen, Major General Gezai Abera, the Amhara regional President Dr. Ambachew Mekonen and his advisor Ezeze Wase, the Ethiopian Premier League (EPL) matches were postponed for one week. This was mainly due to security reason.
As the matches reach decisive stage the country’s football fans are eagerly awaiting for the remaining three crucial match results. The indicator shows that the remaining three matches are key for both the upper and lower sides.
The fight for title
Taking title in football is not that easy in any football competition. The EPL is no exception in this regard. Apart from winning title which is the highest award in the country, it also offers an opportunity to take part in the Africa League Champions. Participating in this continental big event generates a huge sum of money.
There are three teams who compete for the season’s top place at this time. The league leaders Fasil City who have better chance to take title have 52 points from 27 games, two points clear for the second placed Mekele Saba Inderta.
Mekele dropped two points as a result of a goalless tie with Coffee last week Tuesday at the Addis Ababa stadium. That result gave clear advantage for Fasil.
The third placed Sidama Coffee also have 49 points from equal 27 games. Sidama’s chance to get title looks bleak. For Sidama to get title besides winning the remaining two matches, Faisl City and Mekele must concede defeats. This seems highly unlikely.
The hopefuls Fasil City had one friendly match against Mekelakeya before taking on the away match against Adama City. Fasil had a 3-2 win over Mekelakeya.
What is now confirmed about the EPL is that all the three top sides are the regional sides, a record that has been registered for the first time in the competition’s 22 years history.
So far the Addis sides are dominant in collecting the EPL trophy. Saint George collected a record 14 times while Electric (two times), Dedebit and Coffee once each to make the lions share 18.
Regional clubs collected three times in all; Hawassa City (2 times), and Jimma Abajifar once. But this season the fight for title is just between the regional teams. This means at the end of the season they (Regional clubs) will make their tally 4.
The fight for survival
Four sides are in the dangerous relegation zone. One side Dedebit have already confirmed their demotion on 10 points from 27 games. The other three sides are Shire Sihul, South Police and Mekelakeya. Shire Shule who stand 15th on 27 points will face the already demoted side Dedebit. Shire have the chance of getting the full three points.
South Police who are 14th on 28 points will travel to Mekele to face the home side title contenders Mekele Saba Inderta. For South Police this will be a tough encounter. Mekele will also face highly determined opponent in this clash.
Mekelakeya who are 13th in the line-up on 29 points may find it easy to collect the three points beating Hawassa City in the next away clash.
For the three sides, Shire Sihule, South Police and Mekelakeya, avoiding relegation may not be an easy task. That makes the fight for survival very attractive.
Comfortable places to end season’s calendar
Saint George stand fourth on 48 points from 27 games. Mathematically St. George’s chance for title is not dead. If they win all remaining three matches, their tally will be 57. Assume again if the first, second and third placed sides concede three matches defeats in a row the chance of taking the 15th trophy is assured but in any football match a calculation of this sort is not practically achievable. Simply because the calculation is based on the successive defeats of others and successive wins of the self. It is literally difficult to enjoy perfect wins. Considering this St. George are now playing to complete the annual program breathing sombre air.
The same is true from the fifth to eighth placed contenders; Jimma Abajifar, Wowlao Adigrat University, Bahir Dar City and Coffee, in the order of that. A win or defeat makes little change to their places in the table. That definitely limits their ambition.
The fight to better positions
For the sides who stand below the mid-table, it is natural to put their utmost effort to improve position. Hawassa City who stand 9th in the line-up on 35 points are making that effort. They are the first side from the regional clubs to lift the EPL trophy two times.
The tenth placed Dire Dawa City who have 35 points survived with a win in their final match last season. This season the players and their coach don’t have the appetite to repeat that kind of painful experience.
Adama City who stand 11th on 34 points will possibly rise with a win but they had shown inconsistencies all through to this day. They are highly likely to finish the season languishing at the same position.
Wolayita dicha who stand 12th in the line-up on 34 points have the mathematical fear of relegation but hey are likely to survive. A single win will give them the chance of getting out of this fear.
CAF orders winners to register up to 7 July
The Confederation of African Football, CAF, earlier this month notified to all members of the organization to register champions and knock out winners before 7 July 2019. This announcement is binding because the champions and knock out winners will be in the draw just days after the ultimatum. That will help them to participate in the coming season two big continental meets: African Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup. Unless the names are sent ahead of July 7, the Ethiopian representatives will not be in a draw of the next season continental competitions.
Considering this, EFF decision is doing its level best to complete the EPL in a matter of 15 days, that is, ahead of CAF’s ultimatum.
Dull 32nd African Cup of Nations
The 32nd African Cup of Nations has begun with the win of the host nation Egypt on Friday. By then the stadium was full to capacity. The next two matches took place almost in an empty stadium.
The African Cup program has never been on sale in Addis Ababa as it was before. There was no TV advertisement concerning the African Cup this time. No sponsor for the match as it was before. In short the African Cup has not been the talk of the town this time.
Starting form Saturday evening including Sunday and Monday there was no talk about the African Cup in Addis. The death of the Chief of Staff of the Army, General Saire Mekonene, Major General Gezai Abera, President of the Amahara region Dr. Ambachew Mekonen and his advisor Ezeze Wase eclipsed the point of discussion in Addis.
Schedule for the 28th week matches
Accordingly, the 28th week of the Ethiopian Premier League matches were earlier announced before it was cancelled due to security problems last Saturday and Sunday that forced the matches to be cancelled. The hope is that the matches will continue shortly to meet the CAF requirement.
Bahir Dar City will host Wolayita Dicha while the league leaders Fasil City will travel to Nazareth to face the home side Adama City.
The Adama City and Fasil City clash will be a very decisive match to determine the champions. If Fasil succeed to collect the full three points they are likely to take the seasons title.
Wolwalo Adigrat University will host St. George while Shire Sihul to take on the already relegated Dedebit side.
The third placed Sidama Coffee who have the chance to take title will go to Dire Dawa to face the home side. If Sidama concede defeat, their chance to the title will evaporate.
The chance of survival for Mekelakeya is to win over Hawassa City in Hawassa.
Mekele Saba Inderta will face relegation threatened South Police in Mekele. This is also a very crucial match for Mekele. If Mekel drop points in this match and Fasil succeed in collecting three point’s recovery to take title in the remaining two matches will be an uphill move for Mekele.
Coffee will travel to Jimma to face the home side Jimma Abajifar. For both sides the play will be a formality.
The Ethiopian Herald June 25, 2019
BY SOLOMON BEKELE
