Ghanaians in Ethiopia: Lartey, Kalusha score; Daniel Agyei leads Jima in title race

By Juliet Bawuah On May 25, 2018

The Ethiopian Premier League this season is home to about 20 Ghanaian nationals spread across the 16 top flight teams.

The league returned to action with full fixtures this week after match officials ended their strike.

The referees laid down their whistles following an incident where Welwalo ADU (home to Richmond Adongo and Abdul Rahman Fasuni) players and coaching staff attacked center referee Eyasu Fente in a round 22 match against Defence Force at the Addis-Ababa Stadium.

Matchday 23 turned out good for Ghanaian players as Alhassan Kalusha returned to score sheet after many matches to hand his side a crucial win over Dedebit. The other Ghanaian centre-back Lawrence Lartey scored his first goal in the league for Hawassa City.

Here’s an update on Ghanaian players compiled by Footy-Ghana’s Ethiopian correspondent Firew Asrat:

Daniel Agyei and Aaron Amoah – Jimma Aba Jifar

Goalkeeper Daniel Agyei’s Jimma Aba Jifa are in a surprise lead atop the league log. The new league entrants have Agyei and midfielder Aaron Amoah (who joined the club in the second round) on their books.

Daniel Agyei’s role is irreplaceable to their journey alone with their Nigerian forward Okaki Afolabi (tops the goal scorers chart with 14 goals) and Malian defender Adama Sseko.

Jimma Aba Jifar dropped valuable points at home on Wednesday after they were held to a 0-0 draw by Alex Amouzou’s Arabaminch City. As a result, they now lead the league table on superior goals over St. George. They both have 40 points.

Richard Appiah – St. George; Richmond Adongo and Abdurrahman Fasuni – Welwalo ADU

14-time Ethiopian champions St. George defeated Welwalo ADU 1-0 to pile pressure on league leaders Jimma Aba Jifar.

The Ethiopian giants, who are hoping to win the league for the fifth time in a row, have 21-year-old former Cheetah FC striker Richard Appiah. He joined as a free agent two months ago.

Richard Appiah missed Wednesday’s game against Welwalo due to injury in a May 14 fixture vs Ethio-Electric. That game, Appiah scored a spectacular goal:

ጋናዊው የፊት አጥቂ ሪቻርድ አፒያ ቀዳሚ ተሰላፊ በሆነበት የመጀመሪያ ጨዋታው ላይ ኢትዮ አሌክትሪክ ላይ ያስቆጠረው ጎል ይህንን ይመስላል። የተንቀሳቃሽ ምስል ምንጭ፦ ETV

Posted by የፈረሰኞቹ ገጽ on Tuesday, May 15, 2018

Meanwhile, Welwalo, who are relegation candidates, featured Ghana duo Richmond Adongo and Abdul Rahman Fasuni (returned to the line-up after many matches) against St. George.

Dedebit 3-4 Ethio-Electric

Kalusha Alhassan scored a brace and provided an assist as Ethio-Electric makes a way to leap out of relegation zone. Kalusha, who scored back-to-back goals for Electric in the early stages of the season, had been hit by a goal drought following injuries and a drop in performance of his side. But, Kalusha scored the goals in both halves against Dedebit to take his tally to 10 in the season.

Dedebit’s Ghanaian goalkeeper Clement Ashitey has been injured and substituted in the second half while compatriot and defender Kweku Andoh was on the bench.

Ethio-Electric’s goalkeeper Suleiman Abubakar is also Ghanaian.

Adama City 0-2 Mekelle City

Mekelle City is home to Ghanaian trio Amos Acheampong, Fuseini Nuhu (joined the club in the second round )and Bismarck Oppong.

They ended the home unbeaten run of Adama city after 31 league matches. The new entrants who are money bags are in a real title chase campaign as they are one point adrift of the leaders Jimma Aba Jifar with a game in hand.

Fuseini Nuhu, the former New Edubiase and AshGold forward together with Bismarck Oppong of Medeama SC fame, have jointly scored 8 goals and are real additions to Mekelle’s bright season.

Hawassa City 2-0 Fasil

The two times champions Hawassa city is home to Ghanaian midfielder Lawrence Lartey and midfielder Gabriel Ahmed Jetro, the former Inter Allies player. They are well known by their entertaining play across Ethiopia. In midweek, Lartey scored a header to hand Hawassa a 1-0 lead.