Ethiopia welcomes UEFA delegation

Project presentation
In addition to talks with members of the country's national football association, the Ethiopian Football Federation, the delegation also met Ethiopia's youth, sport and culture minister ambassador Teshome Toga to present the Meridian project, which involves co-operation between UEFA and the African confederation CAF, as well as to explain the assistance to be provided to the football authorities in Ethiopia.

Two beneficiaries
As part of the Meridian programme, UEFA is giving technical, material and administrative assistance every two years to two African national associations, with Ethiopia and the Central African Republic the two current beneficiaries. European and other African associations are also involved in specific co-operation projects.

Population of 62 million
Ethiopia has a population of 62 million, and features a mix of Middle Eastern and African cultures. The population is made up of 78 nationalities, of which the Amhara and Omoro nationalities constitute the majority.

Stadium HQ
The Ethiopian FA was founded in 1943, and former president Ydnekatchow Tessema was CAF president from 1972 to 1987. Current association president Ashebir Woldegiorgis has also been appointed president of the CECAFA (Confederation of East and Central African Football Associations de Football), which is based in Nairobi. The Ethiopian FA is presently housed in the national stadium in the capital, Addis Ababa, built in 1940.

Various objectives
A variety of objectives have been set as part of the co-operation between UEFA and the Ethiopian FA. These include, in the short-to-medium term, the provision of equipment for youth players, such as football kits and footballs for 150 teams, about 1,000 balls to be distributed in schools to promote football, and referee kits and equipment such as whistles, flags, cards and substitute boards.

First-aid help
Other short-to-medium term objectives include the provision of first-aid kits and basic medical equipment. In addition, plans are being set up to provide each regional association in Ethiopia with a computer and printer, in order to facilitate and develop relations between the national association and its regional football authorities.

Seminars planned
Over the two years of the relationship between UEFA and the Ethiopian FA, two pairs of seminars are planned – a coaching and sports medicine course during the first year of co-operation, and an administrative and refereeing course during the second year.

Location of headquarters
A long-term objective for the association will be to find a new location for the association's headquarters. The current Ethiopian FA HQ at the national stadium comprise an office for the secretariat and a reception, plus a separate office for the president which also serves as a meeting room.