CAF Launches Ethiopia’s First Academy

FROM MITCHELL OBI, ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA

Memories of the immediate past CAF President, Yidnekachew Tessema was evoked Tuesday afternoon in Addis Ababa as the CAF Executive Committee launched the St. Georges FC Academy.

This is Ethiopia’s first football academy and is situated in the city of Bishoftu, the city of seven lakes.  The St George’s football club academy was formally inaugurated Tuesday afternoon by CAF President, Issa Hayatou who took over the reins of leadership over 29 years ago after Tessema passed on.

Tessema was not only an outstanding player of St George’s where he became their first goal scorer in an international game; he was a coach of the club and the national team.

Indeed he was a founding member of the club and played for 23 years in five different positions.

From its pitches to its medical facilities the academy boasts state-of-the art facilities and will serve as a veritable talent garden for the best of Ethiopian and African football.

Hayatou said in his speech in French at the ceremony that the academy represented a major effort to match the world class standards of renowned academies and must be a pride to all who appreciate the landmark contribution to the game by Tessema, the man he succeeded.