Multi-Million Birr Coach
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – It is to be recalled that the former National football coach, Sewnet Bishaw, had been left on the bench after a couple of triumphant results – to use the parlance of the game. Although his weaknesses were well known to the Football Federation’s new leadership, the poor results since the end of world cup qualifications are presumably the main factor contributing to his farewell.
The new leadership, under the presidency of Juendin Basha, took some time and caution in replacing him. The recruitment process was conducted as transparently as possible. Thus, some 27 applications, including two local contenders, were received and carefully evaluated in order to make the right decision.
The employment contract agreement between the Ethiopian Football Federation and the 57-year-old Portuguese coach, Mariano Barreto, was signed on the April 22, 2014, with a monthly payment of 18,000 dollars. This is non-taxable, other than housing, transport, facilities and other fringe benefits. Mariano would start his coaching job as of May 1, 2014.
Coach Barreto had been working in Ghana between 2003 and 2004 for nine months, and for several other teams, including the Russian team, Dyanmo Moscow, and the Cuban team, Cuban Krashador. In his press briefing, the new coach has expressed his views about Ethiopian football players’ natural talent and the fact that most of the members of the squad are over-aged. He has indicated that they will make attempts to recruit younger players and prepare them for the next prequalifying matches to be held in Morocco next year. That seems to be the main target and the dreams of the new Football Federation leadership – perhaps stipulated in the contract agreement.
I do not know what others feel about the monthly payment of 18,000 dollars – which is close to 360,000 Br a month. Although it could be a premature speculation to make at this junction as to whether all the objectives will be met within the next two years, it would be unfair on my part to keep silent about the decision of the leadership to pay that much money in view of the country’s economic power.
Read more at: Addis Fortune
