Black lions’ gaffer suffers total rejection by fans as Bafana prepares for ‘war’

 

The Horn Times News 21 May 2013
by Getahune Bekele, South Africa
The Coach of Ethiopian national soccer team Sewnet Bishaw (pictured) is in big trouble as the most passionate and knowledgeable fans of the black lions increased the pressure on him to resign with immediate effect.
During the recent world cup qualifying game against the Zebras of Botswana in Addis Ababa, more than 30,000 irate fans sang “Swenet Gaddafi, a soccer terrorist”, and called on Ethiopian football federation boss Sahlu Gebrewold to fire him on the spot.
Sewnet Bishaw has been on the receiving end of crippling criticism after he went to AFCON 2013 with a potential winning team but returned home with wooden spoon; scoring a single goal and conceding an embarrassing seven.
His tactical and technical knowledge of the modern game was also badly exposed when he tempered with the winning formula by making unnecessary wholesale changes for the second game against the Burkinabe stallions in South Africa. The lions were hammered four nil and as a result, for the last game against Nigeria, the team’s moral was lower than a snake’s belly.
“His game management skill is not up to the required standard. I wonder if he is attending international coaching indabas and courses to keep up to date. The result he is grinding out is not fair on the players and the victory starving nation.” A respected soccer writer told the Horn Times from Addis Ababa.
“When it seemed Sewnet Bishaw’s blunder of dedicating the AFCON qualifier victory to the dead anti-sport moron Meles Zenawi was forgotten or forgiven, he kept enticing the fans by selecting average players from Dedebit foot ball club, the club owned by legions of Tigre warlords. Preferring erratic defender Degu Debebe to the powerful Birhanu Bogale and the unfair treatment midfield power house Yared Zenabu has been getting from the technical team was also well spotted by the fans. I think it is time for the coach to go. The fans have reached the point of no return. ” The writer who requested anonymity said.
In addition, the Horn Times observed the same set of fans hurling insults at the arrogant Swenet Bishaw during Alahly vs. St George match at Addis Ababa stadium after the coach openly requested 24/7 federal police protection for himself and his family labeling the soccer lovers “anti government forces.”
Meanwhile, after announcing the names of 25 players for the upcoming crucial Brazil 2014 qualifier matches against Central African Republic and Ethiopia, South African team coach Gordon Igesund said he will prepare Bafana Bafana both mentally and physically for the ‘war’ against the unpredictable and at times devastatingly unstoppable black lions of Ethiopia.
Speaking to the media on Friday, Igesund hinted a very defensive approach against the black lions with the aim of swift counter attack using speedy Bucks winger Tlou Segolela and Sweden based striker Takelo Ranti.
However, if the technical team with or without Sewnet Bishaw gets the team selection and team line up spot on, the black lions have the ability to bury the inconsistent South Africans under avalanche of goals to stay at the summit with 10 points or 13 points if they win away in Botswana.
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At AU summit, Kerry should speak out for a free press

By Joel Simon, CPJ     
Honorable John Kerry
U.S. Department of State
2201 C Street NW
Washington, DC 20520
Dear Mr. Secretary:
We are writing to bring to your attention the deteriorating state of press freedom in Ethiopia, where you will attend this year's African Union Summit. A vibrant press and civil society is fundamental to hold governments accountable and to ensure long-term development and stability. As we mark the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Organization of African Unity, we ask that you include the issue of press freedom in your discussion of the challenges that Africa will face in the next half-century.
Ethiopia, in particular, has been in the spotlight for its crackdown on press freedom in recent years. Your visit to Addis Ababa comes two years after authorities launched a massive crackdown against critics and opponents as popular uprisings spread in North Africa and the Middle East. According to the 2012 U.S. State Department Human Rights Report, "the most significant human rights problems included restrictions on freedom of expression and association through politically motivated trials and convictions of opposition political figures, activists, journalists, and bloggers, as well as increased restrictions on print media."
Today, with seven journalists behind bars, Ethiopia trails only Eritrea as Africa's worst jailers of the press. Among the imprisoned journalists are award-winning columnists Eskinder Nega and Reeyot Alemu, both of whom were targeted under the country's sweeping anti-terrorism law.
Mr. Secretary, in its Africa strategy the Obama administration has noted that the interests of the United States are best served with allies and partners whose stability is based on democratic rule. Your clear voice on these issues would particularly resonate in Ethiopia, where a systematic crackdown on independent journalists, dissidents, human rights groups, and political freedoms has continued unabated.
We urge you to state unambiguously to the Ethiopian government and all other governments gathered under the AU umbrella that a vibrant independent press is a necessary pillar of healthy economies, sustainable development, and long-term stability. We ask that you ensure the issue of press freedom remains in the discussion of Africa's future so that the independent press in all AU countries are able to work freely and openly without fear of reprisal.
Yours sincerely,
Joel Simon
Executive Director


Cc List:
Donald Yamamoto, Acting U.S. Assistant Secretary of African Affairs
Donald Boothe, U.S. Ambassador to Ethiopia