Kidus Giorgis vs. Mekelakeya – EFF Cup Semi-Final Preview

Kidus Giorgis vs. Mekelakeya

Tuesday, September 22, 2015

3:00, Addis Abeba Stadium

 

This year is a historic and monumental year for Kidus Gioris and Mekelakeya as both sides look forward to celebrate their 80th and 70th year anniversary on January. Both are hoping to to embark the new season by winning the EFF Cup.

Current Status

Kidus Giorgis has been training at Adama under the new Dutch Coach Martin Koopman. Coach Martin has been preparing the team for every competition that the Horsemen Compete. The coach also prioritizes EFF Cup. The team spent the last one month at Adama. Kidus Giorgis played a friendly game against Rift Valley and won the game comprehensively 4-0.

Coach Martin Koopman told the club’s official newspaper Lesane Giorgis that his team is ready for the showdown. “First we were working on the physical fitness of the players and tactical awareness. After becoming apprehensive of the EFF Cup semi-final game fixture date we were preoccupied with getting ready of the game mentally and physically.”

Assistant coach Zerihun Shengeta told Soccer Ethiopia that the team is focused on the game. “Our club often gives priority to win the upcoming games that we play. We prepared really well for the game. The new signings and players whom got promotion from the youth squad are courageous. That is so pleasing to see.”

GebereMedhin Haile’s Mekelakeya came to game with a major change. Especially the renowned coach changed their defense. Baye Gezaghen and Carlos Dametw will add a much needed x-factor at the front for the army side.

Coach GebereMedhin speaking exclusively to Soccer Ethiopia said he needs time to reorganize that squad. “We need at least 7 weeks to assemble the squad. We started preparation early. The fixture was revealed to us at end of August while I was working on the combination of the squad. The fixture affected our preseason preparation. But I don’t want to put that as a pretext. We really want to participate on next year’s CAF Confederation Cup. Hence, we give more priority to the game.”

Mekelakeya has been preparing at Bishoftu. They played a friendly game against the Somalia national team, who camped in Addis to prepare for the 2018 Russia World Cup preliminary round game versus Niger. The game ended in a goalless stalemate.

Injury and Suspension

There are no players on both sides that are suspended. Kidus Giorgis will be without Dawa Hotesa after he sustains injury in the midst of a training session. Salahdin Bargicho and Natnael Zeleke will also miss the game after all they are in Portugal for a tryout. Behailu Assefa is doubtful for the game. Tusa had a surgery on his arm on August. He is now in good health.

Mekelakeya will be without captain Mikael Desta and new signing Million Beyene because of injury.

Key Battles

Baye Gezaghen vs. Asechalew Tamene

The two prodigies have something in common. Both of them are new to their respective clubs. They manage to play for the Ethiopia national team.

Baye last season tormented Kidus Giorigis’s backline. His pace and power disturbs the opposition defenders. Asechalew is probably one of the best defender in the country. It is expected that he would replicate his fine form at the Horsemen.

Brian Umony vs. Addisu Tesfaye

The Ugandan international striker Bian Umony is on his maiden full season with the Horseman after joining them last midterm. Fans expect a lot from Brian. Last season he scored some crucial goals for Kidus Giorgis. Addisu Tesfaye was signed from Wolitta Dicha. Addisu is strong and good at defending aerial treat. His power might be a headache for Brian.

Zekarias Tuji vs. Maraki Worku

Zekarias was last season’s the most consistent player in the league. He was so good in defending; his good form merited him a call up to the national team. Maraki on the other hand performed well after coming from injury. He scored goals and his blistering pace was something defenders couldn’t handle.

How did they come?

Kidus Giorgis played only once. They beat ArbaMinch Kenema 1-0 with Natnael Zeleke’s wonderful long range goal in the quarter final.

Mekelakeya were able to achieve an important triumph against Dashen Beer FC. They beat Dashen 2-0. In the quarter final they overwhelmed Sidama Bunna 3-0. Minyelu Wendimu, Samuel Taye and Fire Solomon scored the goals.

Facts

If Kidus Giorgis able to win this game, they will be in the EFF Cup final for the 6th successive time. After failing to reach the final in 2007/08 season the club progressed to the final 5 times. Apart from the 2011/12 season in which the tourney wasn’t held, the Horsemen reached the final for 5 consecutive times. The club lifted the cup in 2008/09 and 2010/11 seasons. But lost in 2009/10 and 2013/14 season to Debebit and 2012/13 season to Mekelakeya.

If Mekelakeya wins the game, it will be their 2nd final in three years. In 2012/13 they beat Kidus Giorgis on penalties to lift the trophy.

Mekelakeya holds the record for the most EFF Cup titles won. They won it 12 times while Kidus Giorgis are second with 10. Ethiopia Bunna and Electric won it 5 and 4 times respectively.

Last 4 EFF Cup Games Result

Kidus Giorgis – W-D-L-W

Mekelakeya – W-L-W-W

EthPL

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
Round 1
1 Oct 2023 15:00
ADA
0
0
CBE
1 Oct 2023 18:00
SID
0
1
BUN
2 Oct 2023 15:00
SHA
0
1
WOD
2 Oct 2023 18:00
HAM
1
2
DIR
3 Oct 2023 15:00
HAW
3
3
FSK
3 Oct 2023 18:00
HOS
2
3
MEC
4 Oct 2023 15:00
KDG
4
1
WOL
4 Oct 2023 18:00
EIC
3
2
BDR
Round 2
12 Oct 2023 15:00
DIR
0
1
BUN
12 Oct 2023 18:00
CBE
1
0
HOS
13 Oct 2023 15:00
HAM
1
2
KDG
13 Oct 2023 18:00
FSK
1
1
EIC
14 Oct 2023 15:00
WOL
1
1
SID
14 Oct 2023 18:00
WOD
0
1
ADA
15 Oct 2023 15:00
BDR
2
1
MEC
15 Oct 2023 18:00
SHA
0
1
HAW
Round 3
19 Oct 2023 15:00
EIC
0
1
WOD
19 Oct 2023 18:00
SID
0
1
FSK
20 Oct 2023 15:00
HOS
0
0
WOL
20 Oct 2023 18:00
KDG
3
2
SHA
21 Oct 2023 15:00
MEC
1
1
CBE
21 Oct 2023 18:00
HAW
0
0
DIR
22 Oct 2023 15:00
ADA
2
2
HAM
22 Oct 2023 18:00
BUN
2
2
BDR
Round 4
25 Oct 2023 15:00
SHA
1
3
SID
25 Oct 2023 18:00
DIR
2
3
CBE
26 Oct 2023 15:00
HAW
0
0
EIC
26 Oct 2023 18:00
WOL
0
3
BDR
27 Oct 2023 18:00
KDG
2
2
ADA
28 Oct 2023 15:00
HAM
0
0
HOS
28 Oct 2023 15:00
FSK
2
0
BUN
28 Oct 2023 18:00
WOD
0
1
MEC
Round 5
31 Oct 2023 15:00
HOS
0
0
SHA
31 Oct 2023 18:00
CBE
2
0
WOL
1 Nov 2023 15:00
ADA
2
1
DIR
1 Nov 2023 18:00
MEC
1
0
HAM
2 Nov 2023 15:00
SID
0
1
HAW
2 Nov 2023 18:00
EIC
0
3
KDG
3 Nov 2023 15:00
BDR
0
0
FSK
3 Nov 2023 18:00
BUN
2
2
WOD
Round 6
7 Dec 2023 15:00
DIR
1
1
WOD
7 Dec 2023 18:00
HAM
0
3
FSK
8 Dec 2023 15:00
EIC
0
1
MEC
8 Dec 2023 18:00
SHA
0
1
WOL
9 Dec 2023 15:00
KDG
1
2
BDR
9 Dec 2023 18:00
SID
0
0
HOS
10 Dec 2023 15:00
ADA
2
1
BUN
10 Dec 2023 18:00
HAW
0
3
CBE
Round 7
7 Dec 2023 15:00
WOL
1
0
HAM
7 Dec 2023 18:00
FSK
0
2
WOD
8 Dec 2023 15:00
MEC
2
1
ADA
8 Dec 2023 18:00
BDR
2
1
HAW
9 Dec 2023 15:00
BUN
1
0
KDG
Postponed
9 Dec 2023 18:00
HOS
1
1
EIC
10 Dec 2023 15:00
CBE
2
1
SHA
10 Dec 2023 18:00
SID
0
2
DIR
Round 8
14 Dec 2023 15:00
HAW
0
3
KDG
14 Dec 2023 18:00
WOL
0
2
MEC
15 Dec 2023 15:00
FSK
1
2
HOS
15 Dec 2023 18:00
DIR
1
2
BDR
16 Dec 2023 15:00
CBE
2
1
BUN
16 Dec 2023 18:00
HAM
0
2
EIC
17 Dec 2023 15:00
WOD
1
4
SID
17 Dec 2023 18:00
SHA
1
1
ADA
Round 9
3 Jan 2024 15:00
EIC
0
1
SID
3 Jan 2024 18:00
ADA
0
1
HOS
4 Jan 2024 15:00
SHA
0
0
BDR
4 Jan 2024 18:00
KDG
1
1
MEC
5 Jan 2024 15:00
DIR
0
3
FSK
5 Jan 2024 18:00
HAW
1
2
BUN
6 Jan 2024 15:00
HAM
0
2
CBE
6 Jan 2024 18:00
WOD
2
1
WOL
Round 10
9 Jan 2024 15:00
BUN
1
1
SHA
9 Jan 2024 18:00
SID
0
0
ADA
10 Jan 2024 15:00
MEC
2
1
HAW
10 Jan 2024 18:00
HOS
0
0
KDG
11 Jan 2024 15:00
EIC
1
2
DIR
11 Jan 2024 18:00
BDR
0
0
HAM
12 Jan 2024 15:00
WOL
0
1
FSK
12 Jan 2024 18:00
CBE
0
1
WOD
Round 11
15 Jan 2024 15:00
BUN
1
1
HOS
15 Jan 2024 18:00
BDR
0
2
SID
16 Jan 2024 15:00
WOD
1
2
HAW
16 Jan 2024 18:00
WOL
0
0
ADA
17 Jan 2024 15:00
DIR
1
3
MEC
17 Jan 2024 18:00
CBE
4
1
EIC
18 Jan 2024 15:00
HAM
0
3
SHA
18 Jan 2024 18:00
FSK
0
1
KDG
Round 12
25 Jan 2024 15:00
EIC
1
1
SHA
25 Jan 2024 18:00
MEC
0
0
FSK
26 Jan 2024 16:00
BDR
1
2
CBE
26 Jan 2024 19:00
ADA
3
2
HAW
27 Jan 2024 16:00
KDG
0
3
DIR
27 Jan 2024 19:00
SID
0
2
HAM
28 Jan 2024 15:00
BUN
1
0
WOL
28 Jan 2024 18:00
HOS
1
1
WOD
Round 13
1 Feb 2024 15:00
WOD
1
0
HAM
1 Feb 2024 18:00
CBE
0
3
KDG
2 Feb 2024 15:00
HOS
0
0
DIR
2 Feb 2024 18:00
BUN
3
0
EIC
3 Feb 2024 15:00
MEC
2
1
SID
3 Feb 2024 18:00
BDR
1
2
ADA
4 Feb 2024 15:00
WOL
1
2
HAW
4 Feb 2024 18:00
FSK
2
0
SHA
Round 14
8 Feb 2024 15:00
SID
2
1
CBE
8 Feb 2024 18:00
MEC
0
4
BUN
9 Feb 2024 15:00
HOS
1
0
BDR
9 Feb 2024 18:00
HAW
2
0
HAM
10 Feb 2024 15:00
ADA
1
1
FSK
10 Feb 2024 18:00
SHA
1
1
DIR
11 Feb 2024 15:00
KDG
1
1
WOD
11 Feb 2024 18:00
EIC
0
0
WOL
Round 15
15 Feb 2024 15:00
ADA
2
2
EIC
15 Feb 2024 18:00
HAM
0
0
BUN
16 Feb 2024 15:00
KDG
1
0
SID
16 Feb 2024 18:00
FSK
2
4
CBE
17 Feb 2024 15:00
WOD
0
1
BDR
17 Feb 2024 18:00
SHA
0
1
MEC
18 Feb 2024 15:00
HAW
1
1
HOS
18 Feb 2024 18:00
DIR
1
0
WOL
Round 16
29 Feb 2024 16:00
BDR
0
0
EIC
29 Feb 2024 19:00
DIR
1
0
HAM
1 Mar 2024 16:00
MEC
2
3
HOS
1 Mar 2024 19:00
FSK
2
1
HAW
2 Mar 2024 16:00
WOL
0
2
KDG
2 Mar 2024 19:00
WOD
1
2
SHA
3 Mar 2024 16:00
BUN
3
0
SID
3 Mar 2024 19:00
CBE
4
1
ADA
Round 17
7 Mar 2024 16:00
HAW
3
1
SHA
7 Mar 2024 19:00
MEC
0
1
BDR
8 Mar 2024 16:00
ADA
1
1
WOD
8 Mar 2024 19:00
SID
0
0
WOL
9 Mar 2024 16:00
EIC
0
2
FSK
9 Mar 2024 19:00
KDG
3
1
HAM
10 Mar 2024 16:00
HOS
0
0
CBE
10 Mar 2024 19:00
BUN
1
2
DIR
Round 18
14 Mar 2024 16:00
BDR
3
1
BUN
14 Mar 2024 19:00
HAM
0
3
ADA
15 Mar 2024 16:00
DIR
1
3
HAW
15 Mar 2024 19:00
CBE
0
2
MEC
16 Mar 2024 16:00
SHA
0
2
KDG
16 Mar 2024 19:00
WOL
0
0
HOS
17 Mar 2024 16:00
FSK
2
2
SID
17 Mar 2024 19:00
WOD
2
2
EIC
Round 19
28 Mar 2024 16:00
MEC
1
0
WOD
28 Mar 2024 19:00
BUN
1
1
FSK
29 Mar 2024 16:00
ADA
-
-
KDG
29 Mar 2024 19:00
HOS
-
-
HAM
30 Mar 2024 16:00
BDR
-
-
WOL
30 Mar 2024 19:00
EIC
-
-
HAW
31 Mar 2024 16:00
CBE
-
-
DIR
31 Mar 2024 19:00
SID
-
-
SHA
Round 20
4 Apr 2024 16:00
WOL
-
-
WOD
4 Apr 2024 19:00
CBE
-
-
HAM
5 Apr 2024 16:00
BUN
-
-
HAW
5 Apr 2024 19:00
FSK
-
-
DIR
6 Apr 2024 16:00
MEC
-
-
KDG
6 Apr 2024 19:00
BDR
-
-
SHA
7 Apr 2024 16:00
HOS
-
-
ADA
7 Apr 2024 19:00
SID
-
-
EIC
Round 21
11 Apr 2024 16:00
CBE
-
-
HAW
11 Apr 2024 19:00
WOD
-
-
DIR
12 Apr 2024 16:00
FSK
-
-
HAM
12 Apr 2024 19:00
BDR
-
-
KDG
13 Apr 2024 16:00
WOL
-
-
SHA
13 Apr 2024 19:00
MEC
-
-
EIC
14 Apr 2024 16:00
HOS
-
-
SID
14 Apr 2024 19:00
BUN
-
-
ADA
Round 22
18 Apr 2024 16:00
WOL
-
-
EIC
18 Apr 2024 19:00
BDR
-
-
HOS
19 Apr 2024 16:00
HAM
-
-
HAW
19 Apr 2024 19:00
FSK
-
-
ADA
20 Apr 2024 16:00
DIR
-
-
SHA
20 Apr 2024 19:00
WOD
-
-
KDG
21 Apr 2024 16:00
BUN
-
-
MEC
21 Apr 2024 19:00
CBE
-
-
SID
Round 23
2 May 2024 16:00
ADA
-
-
SHA
2 May 2024 19:00
BDR
-
-
DIR
3 May 2024 16:00
EIC
-
-
HAM
3 May 2024 19:00
BUN
-
-
CBE
4 May 2024 16:00
SID
-
-
WOD
4 May 2024 19:00
HOS
-
-
FSK
5 May 2024 16:00
MEC
-
-
WOL
5 May 2024 19:00
KDG
-
-
HAW
Round 24
9 May 2024 16:00
FSK
-
-
BDR
9 May 2024 19:00
DIR
-
-
ADA
10 May 2024 16:00
KDG
-
-
EIC
10 May 2024 19:00
WOL
-
-
CBE
11 May 2024 16:00
HAW
-
-
SID
11 May 2024 19:00
WOD
-
-
BUN
12 May 2024 16:00
SHA
-
-
HOS
12 May 2024 19:00
HAM
-
-
MEC
Round 25
16 May 2024 16:00
WOD
-
-
CBE
16 May 2024 19:00
FSK
-
-
WOL
17 May 2024 16:00
HAM
-
-
BDR
17 May 2024 19:00
DIR
-
-
EIC
18 May 2024 16:00
KDG
-
-
HOS
18 May 2024 19:00
HAW
-
-
MEC
19 May 2024 16:00
ADA
-
-
SID
19 May 2024 19:00
SHA
-
-
BUN
Round 26
23 May 2024 16:00
WOL
-
-
DIR
23 May 2024 19:00
EIC
-
-
ADA
24 May 2024 16:00
MEC
-
-
SHA
24 May 2024 19:00
BDR
-
-
WOD
25 May 2024 16:00
CBE
-
-
FSK
25 May 2024 19:00
SID
-
-
KDG
26 May 2024 16:00
BUN
-
-
HAM
26 May 2024 19:00
HOS
-
-
HAW
Round 27
30 May 2024 16:00
CBE
-
-
BDR
30 May 2024 19:00
WOL
-
-
BUN
31 May 2024 16:00
FSK
-
-
MEC
31 May 2024 19:00
DIR
-
-
KDG
1 Jun 2024 16:00
HAW
-
-
ADA
1 Jun 2024 19:00
HAM
-
-
SID
2 Jun 2024 16:00
WOD
-
-
HOS
2 Jun 2024 19:00
SHA
-
-
EIC
Round 28
13 Jun 2024 16:00
SHA
-
-
FSK
13 Jun 2024 19:00
HAW
-
-
WOL
14 Jun 2024 16:00
ADA
-
-
BDR
14 Jun 2024 19:00
DIR
-
-
HOS
15 Jun 2024 16:00
EIC
-
-
BUN
15 Jun 2024 19:00
SID
-
-
MEC
16 Jun 2024 16:00
KDG
-
-
CBE
16 Jun 2024 19:00
HAM
-
-
WOD
Round 29
20 Jun 2024 16:00
HAW
-
-
BDR
20 Jun 2024 19:00
ADA
-
-
MEC
21 Jun 2024 16:00
DIR
-
-
SID
21 Jun 2024 19:00
HAM
-
-
WOL
22 Jun 2024 16:00
EIC
-
-
HOS
22 Jun 2024 19:00
KDG
-
-
BUN
23 Jun 2024 16:00
WOD
-
-
FSK
23 Jun 2024 19:00
SHA
-
-
CBE
Round 30
27 Jun 2024 16:00
KDG
-
-
FSK
27 Jun 2024 19:00
SHA
-
-
HAM
28 Jun 2024 16:00
EIC
-
-
CBE
28 Jun 2024 19:00
MEC
-
-
DIR
29 Jun 2024 16:00
ADA
-
-
WOL
29 Jun 2024 19:00
HAW
-
-
WOD
30 Jun 2024 06:00
SID
-
-
BDR
30 Jun 2024 19:00
HOS
-
-
BUN

Standing Table

#
Club
P
W
D
L
Pt
1
19
12
3
4
39
2
18
11
4
3
37
3
18
11
3
4
36
4
19
8
7
4
31
5
19
8
6
5
30
6
18
8
5
5
29
7
18
6
9
3
27
8
18
7
4
7
25
9
18
7
4
7
25
10
18
4
12
2
24
11
19
6
6
7
24
12
18
5
5
8
20
13
18
2
8
8
14
14
18
2
6
10
12
15
18
2
6
10
12
16
18
1
4
13
7

Top scorers chart

#
Player
Played
Goals
1
Hawassa Ketema
18
10
2
Kidus Giorgis
10
8
3
Ethiopia Bunna
14
8
4
Wolaitta Dicha
16
8
5
Kidus Giorgis
16
8
6
16
8
7
Diredawa Ketema
17
8
8
Fasil Kenema
18
8
9
Bahir Dar Ketema
17
7
10
Adama Ketema
18
7

2023/24 Competitions

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CAF Champions League
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CAF Confederation Cup
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Ethiopian Cup
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Ethiopian Higher League
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Ethiopian League 1
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Ethiopian Premier League
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Ethiopian U-20 Premier League
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Ethiopian Women's Higher League
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Ethiopian Womens Premier League
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