Sheger Derby: Saint George and Ethiopian Coffee Profiled

By Zecharias Zelalem, eHahu.com

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – The biggest match up in Ethiopian football is nigh! Addis Ababa‘s arch rival factions of Saint George and Ethiopian Coffee will clash tomorrow in what will be the first Sheger derby of the 2014-15 season. In recent seasons, the feisty meetings have seen stunning goals, the emergence of heroes, but unfortunately crowd violence as well. I can’t remember a single Sheger derby match in recent times which didn’t end with police chasing feuding fans out of the stadium with their batons. The fierce rivalry between the two sides and the feverishly zealous loyalty and devotion showed by the ultras of both clubs towards their stories franchises means emotions will be running high this Sunday at Addis Ababa stadium.

In recent years, the Horsemen of St George have been the more dominant team, the defending champions having beaten Coffee in both fixtures last season en route to retaking the title from Dedebit. Ethiopian Coffee finished second in the league although they were light years away from their rivals, For some, the gap in class that developed between the two teams meant that the contest lost a chunk of its entertainment value. But I have reason to believe this season will bring a change in the trend.

First of all, both Saint George and Ethiopian Coffee have had rather poor starts to their respective campaigns. Despite being the defending and vice champions respectively, they have taken their sweet time in getting up and running. Coffee’s coach Tilahun Mengesha.

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