Sheger Ketema sack head coach Ashenafi Bekele

Sheger Ketema have sacked their head coach, Ashenafi Bekele, after the end of the first round of the 2025/26 CBE Ethiopian Premier League season. Bekele took charge of the newly promoted side at the start of the season but managed to win only four league games.

Bekele was named head coach of Sheger Ketema in place of Bashir Abdallah. Abdallah parted ways with the club after a new coaching regulation was introduced in the league. Nonetheless, Bekele’s reign was marred by inconsistency and a rift between the players and the coaching staff. Out of the 19 league games, Sheger Ketema lost six and drew nine matches.

The club board gave repeated warnings to Bekele over the poor performances after they had signed big names during the summer. Sheger Ketema sacked Bekele, citing poor results, as they sit 15th with 21 points, three points above the relegation zone, going into the second half of the season.

It is not known who will take charge of Sheger but former Ethiopian Coffee coach Kassaye Arage is tipped to be his replacement. Bekele is a veteran coach in Ethiopia. He has led many clubs and the senior Ethiopia national team in a career spanning four decades.