Cinderella Team Dedebit FC Faces Mounting Obstacles in Second Round

Addis Ababa – Newly promoted Dedebit FC created the biggest surprise of the season when it finished the first round of the 2009/10 Ethiopian Premier League with 13 wins, 3 ties and only 1 defeat, well ahead of defending champions, St. George FC.

Apart from drawing 0-0 with mighty St. George, Dedebit defeated some of the country’s reputable and experienced sides like Ethiopian Coffee (1-0), Ethiopian Banks SC (1-0), Ethiopian Insurance (2-1), EEPCo (2-0) and Adama City (1-0 away). Furthermore, the team remained undefeated until Week 15 when it lost 1-0 to Mugher Cement in Ambo.

However, Dedebit is facing mounting obstacles in the second round as the team won 2, drew 3 times and lost 3 of its matches (9 pts total), compared to 6 wins and 2 draws (20 pts) during the first round.

The team lost three valuable points at home when it was defeated 2-1 by Awassa City and drew 1-1 with Harar City, compared to a 0-0 tie with Awassa and 3-0 victory over Harar away during the first round.

Dedebit scored 11 goals during the first 8 matches of both rounds but conceded 10 more goals during the second. Such slip up has cost the team dearly as it now trails defending champions St. George by 8pts with the latter having one more game in hand.

Dedebit will face a much improved Ethiopian Coffee this Saturday.

Meanwhile Week 26 of the EPL will continue this week with the following matches:

Saturday, April 17:

Addis Ababa

Banks SC vs EEPCo at 3pm

St. George vs Trans Ethiopia at 5 pm

Sunday, April 18:

Addis Ababa

Insurance vs Metehara Sugar at 3pm

Eth.Coffee vs Dedebit at 5 pm

Adama:

Adama City vs Dire Dawa City at 3pm

Ambo:

Mugher Cement vs Sebeta City at 3pm

Sebeta:

Meta Abo Brewery vs Harar Beer at 3pm

Awassa:

South Police vs Defence at 3pm

Yergalem:

Sidama Coffee vs Awassa City at 3pm