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Football-crazy Ethiopians descend on Mbombela
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Football-crazy Ethiopians descend on Mbombela
Football-crazy Ethiopians descend on Mbombela
BY ADELE DU TOIT, JANUARY 22 2013
Monday was an auspicious day for Ethiopians.
Ethiopia, the oldest Christian country in Africa, not only celebrated Timkat, an annual event on the Ethiopian calendar that marks the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River, but it soccer team finally has made it to the African Nations Cup finals.
The team challenged Zambia in a Group C match in Mbombela in Mpumalanga on Monday, breaking 31 years of failing to qualify for the finals of the tournament.
Ethiopia is well known for track stars such as double Olympic gold medallist and world record holder Haile Gebrselassie, but they have won the Nations Cup just once, in 1962. Since then Ethiopia have qualified only once for the finals, in 1982.
The country’s hopes were so high on Monday that even the embassy in Pretoria shut for the day so staff could go to Mbombela and support their team.
"I am a proud Ethiopian and have come all the way to support my team," said the embassy’s spokesman in Pretoria, Elias Fetene. "For me, soccer comes first as I have always watched and played soccer. Soccer is the bread and butter of my livelihood. I am here to see my team win again."
About 3,000 Ethiopians bought tickets for the game and flew into Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport from as far as their capital, Addis Ababa.
From 10am yesterday cars carrying the Ethiopian flag and fans clad in Ethiopian soccer jerseys and waving flags were seen throughout Mbombela.
Even traditional South African vuvuzelas were painted in the colours of the Ethiopian flag — green, yellow and red.
"Green for our land, yellow for the sky and red for danger. The Ethopian soccer team is here!" said fan Sicelo Sthai Vilakati.
"We will make history today in this land. Ethiopia will shine!" said Menlilk Mengistu while waving his Ethiopian flag with pride.
Another supporter, Virna Varda, said the team would shine on the field. "Remember to keep faith and believe. We are 100% ready to shine."
South Africans were also excited about the Ethiopian invasion, with some throwing their support behind the team.
Teresa Ferrari said even though she was proudly South African, she was rooting for Ethiopia. "I got an Ethiopian soccer jersey and am ready to support their great team. Ethiopia will make history today."
Mbombela local municipality spokesman Joseph Ngala wished all the teams and their fans a safe and enjoyable tournament.
Mbombela Stadium also hosted a Group C game between Nigeria and Burkina Faso later last night. Other Group C games that will be played there include Zambia vs Nigeria and Burkina Faso vs Ethiopia on January 25, followed by Burkina Faso vs Zambia on January 29.
African Eye News Service
12 comments
Wow! I like it and makes me proud to see my people so free spirrited and with the love and support of their National team. Most of all, to be noticed and admired by others, to the point that, others even start wearing Ethiopian jersys to be like any Ethiopian fan and support our team. Priceless!!!!
Fans, please let us show the world we love soccer and at same time let us also show the world we are respectful of others and responsible for our behavior.
I wish good luck to the Ethiopian soccer team and enjoyable event for their fans.
Are you now Ethiopian? lollllllllllll
Hilariousssss.....when did you change citizenship from shabia and woyane to Ethiopian lover?
See how kick as$ we are?
. But seriously, it is the greatest fan base and makes me proud as well.addis zemen [Visitor]
"Football-crazy Ethiopians"!
Wow! I like it and makes me proud to see my people so free spirrited and with the love and support of their National team. Most of all, to be noticed and admired by others, to the point that, others even start wearing Ethiopian jersys to be like any Ethiopian fan and support our team. Priceless!!!!
Long life to the real Ethiopians
Death to its enemies
Since when are you Ethiopian? lollll TPLF and Shabia or anyone that cooperated with them is one who HATES ETHIOPIA.
Why don't you tell us the truth instead? You hate Ethiopia and you hate Amhara?
Two TPLFs don't add up to one real Ethiopian. I am not sure where you belong, obviously Ethiopia isn't the place for you losers.
My suggestion .... respect Ethiopia and Ethiopians else leave our country!
U are one of the crew members of Ethiopia's enemies for sure. You right I hate Amharas they are the one's who did burried the country down for a century and killed so many Ethiopians especially Haillsilase not mengistu don't get me wrong a was a true ethiopian
Now all Amharas should apologise to ethiopians.
The fact that you have a country and you call yourself ETHIOPIA is because a lot of Amharas died to keep it free from colonization. I am willing to beat the number of Amhars that lost their lives is far greater than any of the other ethnic groups but that is not the point I came here to argue. Unlike you I am for all Ethiopians and not bound by my ethnicity just proud of it.
You are simply filled with hate like every other TPLF. You are simply confusing being a true Ethiopian with convenience of being one, like Addis Zefzef.
You can try but but you can never become one, you probably know it.
My suggestion change the name to TPLF and be done with it!
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