Ethiopia Walia Ibex  head coach Abraham Mebratu has  unveiled his three assistants that include  Saint George assistant coach Fasil Tekalign, Mulugeta Mihret and goalkeeper  coach Wubishet Desalegn.

“I look forward to starting work and very shortly I will start selecting players ahead of the friendly matches that will be organized before the qualifiers take place in six weeks time.

I hope I will be able to get to know the squad and will begin our match action with the newly elected players sooner rather than later,” Abraham said after disclosing his assistants.

 “Considering the contribution of the country in the formation the Confederation of Africa Football, CAF, Ethiopia deserves to reach in the finals,” the coach said.

The former mid fielder Mulugeta Miheret didn’t hide the fact that he is absolutely overjoyed to have joined the national squad with this high responsibility. “For me it is not easy to become part of this national duty. I say I am very, very happy,” he said. “The dream of a footballer is to play for the national team. I had that chance. Getting the continental trophy with the national side is what we aspire when we played with the national side. That is far from the reality but we didn’t do it. This time I am excited to assist for the national side to reach African Nations Cup finals. This is what I aspire this time,” Mulugeta added.

Mulugeta is highly regarded as an all time fair player for taking only one yellow card in his 12 years playing career in the country’s elite league. He played for the national team, Saint George and Hawassa City as midfielder.

The long time St. George assistant coach Fasil Tekalign said that he is delighted to be part of this national team who served as assistant before.

“Abraham’s Yemeni side played some of the most exciting football in Asia qualifiers, impressing the fans with their attacking approach and dynamism, and his coaching methods significantly improved the players at his disposal. I hope he will do the same in Ethiopia,” Fasil said.

Fasil played for St. George as winger for long. After retiring he became first the youth team coach and then assumed the assistant coach status at St. George. Fasil has also served as an assistant national team coach.

Many people received the appointment of Abraham as head coach of the national team with hope and inspiration. Negotiations to release Abraham from his Yemen deal took some weeks to conclude.

This is the first time EFF to appoint the national team head coach following the resignation of the former coach Ashenafi Bekele in December 2017.