Scoring first goal means a lot – Coach Meka

Head coach of Ethiopia’s U-15 team, Solomon Meka has praised his players for the good fighting spirit that saw them settle for a draw against South Sudan in a Cecafa U-15 Challenge Cup tie played on Monday in Asmara.

The Ethiopian team lost their opening match 3-0 to Uganda last weekend, but put up a good display to draw 1-1 against South Sudan.

“These are young boys and scoring their first goal of the tournament means a lot in-terms of confidence building,” Coach Meka told Cecafafootball.com.

Tet James Wicjong gave South Sudan the lead in the first half before Ethiopia piled pressure and got a penalty. Fentile Fitsum Fetalew made no mistake from the spot sending the South Sudan goalkeeper David Doluony Duol the wrong way.

The Ethiopian coach made it clear that although their players are really small bodied compared to most of the teams they are excited about this exposure. “This exposure is very good for our players and we shall put up a much better show in the next two games of the group,” added Meka.

Uganda who beat Tanzania 2-0 in an earlier Group B match on Monday lead the group with six points.

Group B table standings

P   W   D   L   GF  GA   A   Pts

Uganda     2    2    0    0    5    0     5    6

Rwanda    1    1    0    0    3     0     3    3

Ethiopia   2    0    1   1    1     4     -3     1

S.Sudan   2    0    1    1    1    4     -3      1

Tanzania  1    0   0     1    0     2   -2     0