Ethiopian premier league (EPL) initially scheduled for Sunday, October 30 kick-off has been pushed back by at least ten days.
The Ethiopia Football Federation (EFF) will this week sit down with the government, now in close control of the topflight, to pick a new date.
Meanwhile, Addis Ababa City Cup which was postponed indefinitely due to security concerns will now go on, most likely from Saturday, October 22, as confirmed by the organizers.
The off-season 8-team tournament for EPL clubs will then give way for the league to start.
“The government agreed with the EFF for the tournament to be held based on a new time-table to be agreed upon. We will start the premier league after the end of the competition,” EFF media officer Wendemkuhn Alyehum told Soka25east.com.
He reiterated that the time-table will be out after the meeting with government officials, “We will announce a new time-table after our meeting with government officials this week.”
Ethiopian government declared a 6-month state of emergency following months of often deadly anti-government protests, and has been in firm control of many activities in the country including football.
Another pre-season competition involving EPL teams, South Castle Cup, concluded Saturday, October 15, in Hawassa City.
Sidama Coffee beat Arbaminch 3-1 to bag the trophy for the third time; the third play-off was contested between Ethiopian Coffee and Dire Dawa with the latter winning 2-1.
Additional reporting by Firew Asrat.
