And the question on many football followers’ lips these days must be: Who will stop the St George juggernaut?
St George will be out to add to Ethiopia Coffee’ woes when the two Ethiopia giants square off in a massive EPL encounter at the Yidenkachew Tessema Stadium on Saturday. Kick-off is at 1600hrs
Popularly known as Sherger Derby it makes for one of the biggest derby matches in the Africa. Whenever there is an imminent clash between the two soccer giants, the excitement on the streets of capital and townships are abuzz with speculation.
The Sheger derby always attracts a full house be it at Addis Ababa Stadium or any other venue and both St George and Ethiopia Coffee boast fans all over the country and any match involving the two teams seldom has empty seats.
All players from both sides have refused to grant interviews, stressing that they have been given strict instructions not to speak to the media unless the media got permission from the teams’ respective offices. This is clearly a reflection of the tensions running through both camps before the clash.
Indeed it has spiced a rivally that intenstified in 1990’s after the EPL brought the present modern format in the 1997/1998 season and the game has been attracting millions across the country and around the globe.
So far both sides have met 35 times in the league and St.George has the upper hand with 18 wins compared to Coffee’s seven wins with all other encounters having ended into draw showing how rival the derby is.
In this 2016/17 season,the two teams met on week 8 of the first round as the lone header of Nigerian import defender ‘Eko favor’ gave Ethiopia Coffee a narrow 1-0 win over St.George.
The coffee makers are again highly expected to grab three points as a win for them will narrow the gap between them and their the arch rivals.On the other hand a win for St.George will widen the gap with Coffee to seven points and it will guarantee them a comfortable lead over second placed Dedebit.
St.George this season have been showing the inconsistent performance having played 21 games so far with a game at hand.They boast of wins in 11 games having lost four matches coupled with six draws
Their scoring record tells of a side that is hungry for goals with their forwards having gathered 33 goals and conceded only 14 goals putting their tall to 39 points so far.
Meanwhile,Ethiopia Coffee have also been performing inconsientintly but after sacking Serbian coach Veciceviv in the first round,they started to perform well. But coming to the second round they lost important points in away games.
After playing 22 matches they have won nine games, lost five matches and have draw in 10 games.So far they have gannered 29 goals and conceded 20 goals with 35 points and are holding fifth position in the league.
In the last weekend games Ethiopia Coffee lost away to Dire-Dawa as St.George made a goalless draw aganist Woliyta Dicha in an away tie played in Sodo.
St George are likely to be without their dribbling wizard Behailu Assefa who was ruled unfit after sustaining an injury during the Champions league sweet victory over Congo’s AC Leopards.
All eyes will be on Behailu,who has been good form having made a comeback but Minyahel Teshome and Alula Girma are still out of the team best as they sustained time taking injuries in previous months.
Ethiopia Coffee on their side will be missing the services of key attacker Gatouch Panom who saw a red card on mid week’s tie.Their attack minded midfield player Elias Mamo is also injured as well as Cameroonian Yabun Willams who has failed to recover on time.
In order to fill the midfield gap,Ethiopia Coffee gaffer Gizahege will use the recent good performer Mesud Mohammed to patner with Amanuel Yonass. Nigerian internationsl Samuel Sanumi will lead the haunt of goals and will be joined by teenage striker junior team Abubker Nasro.
So whether St George are riding the crest of the wave and Ethiopia Coffee are almost rock bottom, fireworks are always expected. And this derby – Ethiopia’s most important fixture – should be no different.
