aqumada

By Abel

It was 26 years ago, September 1982/Meskerem 1974 to be exact. We were about to play Guinea for a spot in the 13^th Nation's cup to be held in Libya. The Ethiopian national team had gotten an unbelievable 2-2 away result from Guinea, a team that was considered to be one of the best in Africa at the time. Although the tie in Guinea gave our team an advantage, seven of the players that started the game had decided not to return to Ethiopia. The players who stayed behind were Sewnagizaw Terefe, Aboneh Mammo, Neguse Asfaw, Dawit Haileab (all Tigle Fre players) Ayale and Girma Taffese of Police.

The return game in Addis was held on the day Addis Stadium opened after the long winter break. With or without the seven players the game had to go on. The stadium was full and everybody was upbeat and singing. The game started and we continued to sing. Our joy didn't last as Guinea scored. If the game ended that way, it was Guinea who would have qualified for the African Cup in Libya and for much of the game it looked like it was going to end that way. But late in the second half, the great Mulualem Ejigu sent a pin point cross to the goal which was met by a leaping Abdurahman Adem (MIG) and he scored an unbelievable goal. The game was tied and it meant that our team qualified to the Nations cup after 6 years of absence.

We sang and danced all night. The main song was 'ayersam tizetaw ayeresam..." meaning-- we will never forget this. It has been many years since Mig's goal sent our team to Benghazi, Libya for the 13th African Nations Cup - a long drought.

Laureate Tsegaye Gebre Medhin

By Choma

Just as Wogesha has done, I, Choma, have also begun a professional medical career.  I just came off my first shift in the Emergency Room.  Even if you are not religious, pray for those patients I saw today.  The rush to see, diagnose, treat and remove patients is counterproductive towards quality health care.  Yet this superficial topic is not why I blog today.

What I do want to write about briefly is the irony of self-importance.  Self-importance is the quality that allows assholes a reasonable chance of being seen in relatively flattering terms. 

The slew of African-focused humanitarian efforts in 2007 are what have caught my attention.  What’s up with the celebrity and philanthropic foci upon Africa ?  Not that I mind the attention, but since when did Rock stars and Ex-Presidents care so much about those whom they never seemed to embrace previously.  The image of Bono sitting on an island he owns talking to other rich people about how poor off Africans are is a bit absurd.   Sir Bono is only outdone by former President Clinton and his humbly-named organization, the Clinton Foundation.  Where else but Africa could a serially-unfaithful husband be so warmly received in his efforts to eradicate a disease spread by unfaithful husbands? 

The irony of self-importance is that one’s efforts, however sincere their intention, fail to arise from sincere people.

Muluaben Besse of Ethiopia's NOC boasted that his country came to the Algiers Games [ALL AFRICA GAMES] poised to dominate African athletics.

<snip>

"We are a powerhouse in athletics but it will be more meaningful if we add the sprints. We are now ready to claim the 100 and 200 meters in both the male and female events," he said.

<snip> 

Take a look at:
Ethiopia challenges Nigeria for sprint medals

Ofcourse, none of our athelets qualified for the finals of the sprint events that have been held so far (let alone win it all).

...on the amharic word for nipple 

It was not pretty but Brazil beat Argentina 3-0. Argentina was never allowed to get into a rhythm. The Brazilian midfielders never gave Argentina a space to play their beautiful flowing football. The tightly marked Requeleme watched helplessely as the faster and stronger Brazilans hit Argentina on the counter...again...and again.

Did I mention that I love the pre-game and half time shows on Univision (a.k.a the spanish channel)?:)

It is not just the Ethiopian Airlines that advertises on international publications anymore. Here is what I found in the current print edition of BBC FOCUS ON AFRICA. Who could be the target audience? As far as I know, these are domestic brands.

I had thought the dazzling display of one touch football had ended with the reinvention of the Brazilian National team in the early 90’s. The style that had made millions like me fall in love with the Brazilian style of the pre 90’s has come back. It is not the Brazilians but their bitter rivals Argentina who have brought back the artistry back into soccer. Argentina will be facing Brazil in the finals of the ongoing Copa America tomorrow. Guess who I will be cheering for?

... a taste of the Argentinian style at last year's world cup

... another take on this subject