Gebremeskel retains position as Saint George assembly ends in controversy

Ethiopian side, Saint George SC, concluded a day-long elective General Assembly held in Addis Ababa on Sunday, October 26.

The record Ethiopian champions are going through a rough patch, as fans were longing for change in the club hierarchy, but the outcome of the General Assembly proved to be a controversial one.

The General Assembly saw reports presented by the club’s General Secretary, Neway Beyene, and an external audit report was also disclosed to the members. Board Chairman Abenet Gebremeskel made an opening remark from the United States via video call.

Gebremeskel Takes Lead as Saint George SC Concludes Elective General Assembly

The club’s financial status over the last five seasons has worried fans, as debts are heavily affecting overall administrative work. The Horsemen reported that they have accumulated 1,058,340 USD (161,000,000 Birr) in debt over the past five seasons. Some members questioned the board to respond to the serious allegations directed at the chairman. The club’s diehard fan, Jemal Ahmed, had previously stated that Gebremeskel embezzled a large sum of money from Saint George.

A move by the current board to proceed with an election was resisted by members, as the General Assembly descended into chaos. Some members wanted the club to be run by a transitional committee, seeking to end the current board’s tenure.

The fierce resistance subsided only after the intervention of the Addis Ababa City Administration Youth and Sport Bureau officials, who stepped in to mediate. Pan Africa Football understands that a large number of members left the meeting hall after the election went ahead.

Gebremeskel retained his place on the new board despite opposition from some members. The new seven-person board also includes Beyene, Milion Alemu, Mohamed Ali, Fisseha Wolde, Abebaw Zewde, and Samson Amedissa. Beyene and Alemu were members of the previous board, while the other four were newly elected.

Some members are now threatening to take the case to CAF for irregularities and breaches of the club’s regulations. A new chairman is expected to be named in the coming days, with insider sources suggesting that Gebremeskel is likely to retain the post for another four-year term.

The controversial elective General Assembly has revealed a huge rift among the members of Ethiopia’s oldest football club. Many had expected Gebremeskel to resign from his post, paving the way for a new, independent board to be named.

With financial instability and controversy surrounding the election, Saint George is expected to face a tough time in the upcoming Ethiopian Premier League season.

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