By Administrator,

Ethiopian football federation (EFF) President Junedin Bashah is an astute business minded football official.When he took over in October 2013 after winning the elections where he garnered 55 votes from the 106 General Assembly members at the Sheraton hotel in Addis Ababa he had his work cut out taking over from Gebremariam in whose reign Ethiopia qualified for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations hosted by South Africa.

An like a colossus Junedine  Bashah who is credited for efficiently and smooth running of the Harar Beer where he left a mark took EFF and immediately announced his blueprint that included transparency which he reiterated would be his core principal and yes after 10 months in office his score card has been impressive and having intitiated his intentions from grassroots and youth football undertaking Under 17,Under 20 and Ethiopia senior team Walia .

When respected coach Sewnet Bishaw was sacked after a dismal perfomance at the 2014 CHAN there was hue and cry but EFF had other thoughts of a new transition that was devoid of any attachements apart from established football success  coupled with new football agenda for Ethiopia leading to the appointment of Mariano Barretto.

Bashah’s quest to modernise the way things are done has been reflected by a well planned International friendly against Angola then a trip to Brazil where the team will prepare ahead of the daunting AFCON 2015 qualifers where they are in a tough group.

“It was important to come up with strategies that will help the team as they prepare for the Afcon qualifers where we are a tough group.A top notch friendly against Angola then a stay in Brazil will help motivate both the players and technical bench and this goes along the short and long term goals we have for the team as a federation”Bashah told Soka25east.com

“We are proud that we have managed to participate and give our youth teams an opportunity like the Under 17 and Under 20 by ensuring they get adequate preparations.It important that we run the federation in a business model that will encompass success for Ethiopian football vis a vis football development in the country”he added

Walia Ibex will play Angola’s Palanca Negras on Sunday 3rd August in Luanda then take an Ethiopian Airways connecting flight to Addis Ababa enroute to Sau Paulo where they will set up base at the Brasilia city in Brazil for a two week training session under Portuguese coach Mariano Barreto.

Collins Okinyo

Ex- CAF Media Expert. An expert on African football with over 15 years experience ,always with an ear to the ground with indepth knowledge of the game. I have worked for top publications including 7 years at www.supersport.com until i founded www.soka25east.com to quench the thirst of football lovers across the continent. I have trained young upcoming journalists who are now a voice in African football.I have covered World Cup,AFCON,CHAN,Champions League,Confederations Cup,Cecafa,Cosafa,Wafu and many other football tournaments across the World. Founder Football Africa Arena(FAA),Founder www.afrisportdigital.com