Fasil Kenema on brink of second coaching change this season

CBE Ethiopian Premier League side Fasil Kenema are on the verge of losing their head coach for the second time this season. The Emperors, as they are nicknamed, have found themselves in chaos following successive league defeats, as head coach Amsalu Esmlealem requested to leave his post.

Esmlealem was appointed head coach of the one-time Ethiopian champions following the departure of Yohannes Sahle, who left his post to take the helm of the Ethiopian national side. Since the change in head coach, Fasil Kenema managed to keep pace with league leaders Sidama Coffee, but a rift between the head trainer and some players erupted before the start of the second half of the season.

Pan-Africa Football understands that attacker Natnael Gebregiorgis and midfielder Habtamu Tekeste got into a confrontation with coach Esmlealem. The dispute over technical issues resulted in Esmlealem leaving the side a week ago. Fasil Kenema are now managed by their assistant coach, Elmedin Mohamed.

Under the former Ethiopian Coffee player, Fasil Kenema lost back-to-back league matches, as fans questioned the management over the poor performances surrounding the club. In a viral social media video, fans were seen questioning left back Amsalu Tilahun to explain the current situation of the club following a 3–1 defeat to Commercial Bank of Ethiopia in Week 20 in Adama.

Esmlealem also missed the Week 21 defeat to relegation battlers Wolwalo Adigrat University, as the club now look to appoint a new trainer. Sources close to the matter told Pan-Africa Football that Esmlealem handed in a resignation letter. Mohamed is expected to stay on as head coach for the upcoming fixtures.

Fasil Kenema remain fourth with 33 points, three points behind Sidama Coffee. Since beating Saint George 1–0 in Addis Ababa, Fasil have managed to collect only one point from four matches.