Tefera attacks coach over Afcon omission
By  Lovemore Moyo
Former Orlando Pirates striker Fikru Tefera has launched a scathing attack on Ethiopian national team coach Bishaw Sewnet following his omission from the 23-man squad that will do battle at the Africa Cup of Nations later this month.
Tefera has labelled Sewnet a ‘stupid coach who never played professional in his life and just wants to gain popularity at his expense because he (Tefera) has achieved more in his career and is living a good life in South Africa’.
“I am not surprised you want to know why I am not in the squad and the answer is simply. It is because of politics and a stupid coach who wants to be seen as big and gain popularity for having left out a professional player from the squad,” rants Tefera in his conversation with KickOff.com.
“That guy (Sewnet) is just looking for fame at my expense because I am a professional and he is a teacher who never played professional football but was just lucky to make it into football. The truth is that I command a lot of respect and I am way more popular and successful in Ethiopia than him. The people in Ethiopia love me for all I have done in putting the country’s football talents on the map because I have played in Europe, South Africa and in Asia.
“He just doesn’t like the fact that I voice my concern about issues that I always feel to be addressed in our football. He hates the fact that I had guts to say our previous coach (Tom Saintfiet) was a good coach because this is how we felt as players and I stood up to speak representing the players.
“Since he never played professional football he thinks when you say something it is because you think you know too much. I have played under professional coaches like Gavin Hunt and I have never had a problem with any of them because they are all professional. Though I am not in the team I will still help the rest of the squad when they come to South Africa because I am familiar with this country and I have an Identity Card that makes me a permanent resident.
“I will always be available for my country but for him I don’t care a bit. I will also be supporting Ethiopia and not him. The rest of the people in Ethiopia want me to be in the team yet he thinks I don’t deserve to be there,” says Tefera.
Tefera – who has also played for SuperSport United – has just left Vietnam Super League club Thanh Hoa where he spent a year playing after stints in Czech Republic and Finland.
Source: KickOff.com
