Ethiopian Premier League debutants Fasil Kenema have ruled the airwaves lately owing to their strong start to the 2016/17 season, which has seen them shock big names like Kidus Giorgis and Ethiopian Coffee, and their colourful fans who throng the stadium each time they take to the field.
Soka25east.com’s Timotios Baye caught up with their ailing coach Zemariam Woldgiorgis who is currently in Thailand for specialised treatment, and the former Adama City, Bahirdar City and Burayu City manager is oozing confidence they are in the race for the title.
The “Emperors” are currently 6th in the table standings with 7 points from 4 matches, with one match at hand.
Soka25east.com – What is the secret behind Fasil’s surge and wins over the Ethiopia giants?
Zemariam – Motivation and winning spirit is key, but when you are playing against big teams you must know the opponents tactics very well, and you have to play based on their tactics, and of course, our team has its own quality too.
Soka25east.com – Now that you are abroad for treatment, does your absence affect the team’s success?
Zemariam – Not really,but as you know coach is a leader. If your don’t have a leader you might get some confusion, but my coaching staff,the fans are guiding my team well,like during yesterday’s Amhara Derby.
Soka25east.com – What do you think about Fasil fans?
Zemariam – Oh! They are born to be real football fans, they are my family and they have made me to fall in love with them. They are what a coach and team wants from fans. They are role-models to others.
Soka25east.com – What do you think about the future of Fasil?
Zemariam – I think big and I’m playing for the title, just for the title. It’s football, I can’t assure you about the future, but I definitely assure you about our best season, and good outcomes. We simply are the ‘Emperors’, we think big and do big.
Coach Zemariam is expected to skip upto 3 league matches based on the progress of the treatment abroad.
He will undergo a surgery Tuesday 13. At we Soka25east.com we wish him quick recovery.
-Story by Timotios Baye in Thailand.
