New
Coach Selects Preliminary Squad for Liberian Match
Addis Tribune (Addis Ababa)
May 30, 2003
New Ethiopian coach Asrat Haile has selected a preliminary squad of 34
players for the upcoming African Nations Cup match with Liberia on
June 6. And he has looked to his former club for the resources to
guide the team as it hopes to secure its African Nations Cup
qualification in 22 years.
Asrat spent ten successful years at reigning Ethiopian Premier League
champions St. George where he won no less than 10 trophies in what is
described as one of the club's golden era. And the association has
continued with Asrat picking eight players from the current St. George
meaning that all players in the St. George, starting the line-up are
eligible for selection. Ethiopian Coffee are also well represented in
the squad with seven players.
St. George goalkeeper Tadewos Getachew has been recalled to the squad
after a year out with injury and Asrat looks to be spoilt for choice
as both keepers from the squad that won the CECAFA challenge cup were
included along with Wubishet Desalegn, the man behind the posts
against Liberia in Addis in April and his clubmate from Berhanena
Selam Gezahegn Bankesera.
In defense, the St. George trio of Anwar Siraj, Anteneh Feleke and
Samson Mulugeta assume their place. Anwar has been reinstated back to
the Ethiopian team after being dropped by former coach Jochen Figge.
And he could also be reinstated back to the captain's role and lead
the team as he effectively did in the CECAFA win. Ethiopian Coffee
left-back Mohammed Ibrahim (nicknamed King) also returns in Asrat's
first squad.
Ethiopian's midfield looked solid in both home matches in Addis Ababa
against Guinea and Liberia and Asrat has opted not to make any drastic
changes except for the withdrawal of the Banks Club duo of Wakjira
Anbesse and Abebe Wasihun, who was particularly effective against
Liberia on the right. The St. George duo of Dawit Mebratu and Getu
Teshome return to the national team setup after falling out with
Jochen Figge. But Asrat's midfield will again look to the diminutive
Ashenafi Girma, a class-act against Liberia in Addis Ababa and largely
expected to play a similar role in the return match in Monrovia.
Ethiopia's attack has been overwhelming in both matches denying the
country a chance to increase its goal difference as it fights for
qualification. With the exception of Migher cement's Andualem Nigussie
and Ethiopian Coffee's Mamualem Shanko, Asrat had surprisingly stuck
with the same players with Yordanos Abay and RRC Genk's Bayou Mulu
likely to be the figure heads upfront.
Ethiopian Preliminary Squad for Liberia match
Goal Keepers: Tsegazeab Asgedom (EEPCO), Tadios Getachew (St George),
Wubishet Desalegn & Gezahegn Bankesera (Birhanena Selam)
Defenders: Anwar Siraj, Samson Mulugeta & Anteneh Feleke (St George),
Zewdu Bekele (Banks), Tamrat Abebe & Daniel Habtamu EEPCO), Mohammed
Ibrahim "King" & Andargachew Solomon (Eth. Coffee), Andualem Arega (Adama),
Afework Yohannes (Trans) and Degu Debebe (Arba Minch)
Midfielders: Alemayehu Molla (Adama), Mesfin Assefa & Ibrahim Hussein
(EEPCO), Getu Teshome, Mulualem Regassa, Dawit Mebratu & Muluken
Woldeyes (St George), Sebsibie Sheger (Air Lines), Ashenafi Girma,
Anteneh Alamirew & Debrom Hagos (Eth. Coffee); Getaneh, Mekonnen
Gelaneh & Tagay (Arba Minch).
Forward: Andualem Nigussie (Mugher), Yordanos Abay & Mamo Alem "Asprilla"
Shanko (Eth Coffee), Bayou Mulu (RRC Genk) and Ermias Kidane (Nyala).
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