Ethiopia Nations
Cup hopes for balance after financial crisis
ADDIS ABABA,
March 25, 2003
(SW) - Ethiopia’s hopes of qualifying for their
first African Nations Cup in twenty-two years received a major blow
after a current wave of financial crisis. The footballing governing
body in the country, the Ethiopian Football Federation (EFF), is now
asking for funds from benefactors and sponsors alike to help complete
the team’s Nations Cup qualifier against Liberia this Sunday.
Dr. Ashebir Woldeyohannes,
President of the Ethiopian Football Federation, told Soccerway that
the Federation has no money to fund the National team or complete the
remainder of the current league season. “We have no money,” he said.
“For this reason, we were not able to help get the National team more
friendly matches because we cannot fund their trips to Addis Ababa.”
The EFF is now asking for
Sponsors to help finance preparations for the team’s Nations Cup
qualifier against Liberia this weekend. An official plea has been
broadcasted on National television and sources from within the
Federation say that letters have been sent out to potential donors
asking for any sort of help they may be able to provide.
In related news,
Ethiopia’s hopes on the field have also received a dramatic downturn
after the Ethiopian Premier League’s top scorer Yordanos Abay left the
country for a fifteen-day trial with Belgian giants Anderlecht two
weeks before the Liberian encounter. Ethiopia’s German coach Jochen
Figge said that he was unhappy with the striker’s sudden decision to
leave. “Yordanos has hurt us and hurt his country,” he said. “His
agent told me that he would be back on the Tuesday before the Liberian
match, but we will have to see.”
In addition, Figge has to
count on two other injuries for the match. Definitely ruled out is
Arba Minch Textiles defender Adugna Gelana after a training collision.
Insurance midfielder Andualem Gashaw is a major doubt after a foot
injury. And former Ethiopian Coffee striker Mamualem Shanko is still
without a club after returning from an unsuccessful trial in Yemen.
But despite both on and off-field
problems, Figge says that he is confident that his team will stand up
to the challenge. “The boys are in good morale and team spirit,” he
said. “I honestly think we have the right type of mentality to win the
game.”
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