The ever growing Ethiopian Premier League (EPL) has continued to attract players from across Africa.
One such player is Togo national Edem Housrouvi who plays for newly promoted side Fasil Kenema.
He is among three Togolese plying their trade in the Ethiopian topflight. Others are Hawassa Kenema duo of goalkeeper Nusuhoho Mensah and Djako Arafat.
Edem spoke to Soka25east’s Firew Asrat ahead of tomorrow’s league meet between Fasil and Hawassa dubbed “Togo derby.”
The Lomé-born started his football journey in the capital early 2000 against the wishes of his family members, who preferred he concentrate in his studies.
However, his persistence and talent caught the eyes of a local football academy which he played for their team Anges FC in the Togo’s third tier league.
In 2007 he joined second tier outfit Asfosa FC – playing for them for three years.
His top performances at Asfosa earned him national team call up in 2010 for a regional tournament “UEMOA” in Niger.
In the tournament Togo managed a single win, a 3-1 beating of Benin, with Edem netting twice.
He signed for Ghana Premier League side Hearts of Lion thereafter, but was loaned to Togo Premier League side Semassi for three months in 2012.
On return, he went to Lithuania in a deal which did not materialize due to delayed paper work – forcing him back to Hearts of Lion.
In 2014, he penned a two-year-deal with Ethiopian Bunna in the EPL but, he did not last six months after disagreeing with the coach, and was loaned to Dashen Beer.
Edem scored six goals in the 2014/15 season – helping Dashen to escape relegation.
He made the move permanent the following season and scored 12 times for the beer makers despite facing relegation.
Edem found a new home at Fasil this season and has thus far scored six times for the “Emperors.”
He reckons the season has been competitive due to the many foreign players who are bringing a different style and tradition into the league.
Edem attributes his side’s slump early second leg to narrow squad and fatigue adding that they are back to form as most players have recovered from injuries.
“We are very close friends, but tomorrow’s game is very important for our clubs so we will play hard to score,” Edem said about the much awaited clash in Hawassa.
Djako and Edem are both top scorers for their clubs with 7 and 6 goals respectively.
Fasil are 7th in the table standings with 29 points, while Hawassa are 8th with 24 points.
