The Ethiopian Sport Federation in North America (ESFNA) took the $300,000 from Sheik Mohamed Al Amoudi with no string attached to it, Ato Dawit Agonafer, ESFNA’s president told journalists in a press conference yesterday at Stadium. In a press conference attended by more than 20 journalists, Ato Dawit Agonafer said ESFNA takes donation from any body, but not allow being hand-twisted.
Asked about why the people reacted so bitterly for the money granted by the sheik, Dawit and the federation’s PR Fasill responded that it is because of Al Amudi’s political affiliation. “Do you take money if granted by Meles?” they say “No, because Meles Zenawi is a political leader.”
Questions also asked why the federation didn’t take stand on the Ethio-Sudan Border, the Ethiopians hunger and Teddy Afro’s case, and the Federation promised to seriously consider it. It was a kind of hard talk but ended with peaceful civil way. ESFNA’s president Dawit Agonafer and public relation officer Fassil Abebe were responding to questions in a very humble way. The move is indeed commandeble and a good step to take corrective measures.
Apparently a $ 300,000 grant from Sheik Al Amoudi had a very adverse effect on the festival. The significant decline of the turnout at the stadium is a major setback. One journalist was heard saying you get 300,000 dollar and you lost 300,000 people.
The other challenge of the federation is its ambitious DC festival which costed $ 1.2 million. The federation got only 300,000 dollar from the Sheik but the remaining $ 800,000 was expected from the public, according to the federation. The expectation was that up to one million visitors could cover the cost. It seems hardly to realize this as the public have boycotted the festival in previous days.
On Friday, (Ethiopians’ Day) the entrance will be $ 20 plus parking fee. Entertainers and traditional and contemporary dancers are expected to perform. The African American, Ethiopian lover Mike-E told to EMF that he will perform today. (Details later)
July 4th, 2008 at 5:51 am
After the end of the game, i encourage everyone to visit the web site created by individual. the address is www.esfnawatch.com and see every document about the sport federation.
July 4th, 2008 at 9:16 am
i really don’t see any reason why we keep these the so called ESRNA leaders/presiden. they should resign because they have made a very stupid mistakes by taking money from the enemy of our country and advertising his business on the ESFNA web site. i personally don’t trust them we should elect new president and the whole management has to be changed.
July 4th, 2008 at 10:16 am
yegermal eko ,these two guys from”esfna” want to fool us or what ? after they had taken this blood and stolen money ,they told us that it was mistake or “taking corrective measures”. lemme tell you want thing.life is full of its ups and downs. “atikelid yekeledibihal ” says juses.
July 4th, 2008 at 12:04 pm
Dear Journalists,
The way you tried to dig out the very hard fact about the hidden motives of the so-called ESNFA board members was commendable.I think you have tried your best to show us that there is no way to play a dirty game behind the stage, particularly when it comes to people’s and national interest, justice, respect for human rights, the fight against serious corruption/scandal and against those groups/individuals who want to make themselves ‘wealthy’ at the very expense of our people who are facing untold and unprecedented suffering.
They said that they do not want to take donation from the TPLF/Meles . That is good. Sadly enough, they do not care taking any amount of money from individuals such as Alamoudin who told us unequivocally that he is determined to sacrifice not only his money/material but ultimately his life. Are you telling us how you are so naive or are you insulting once again the very intelligence of the Ethiopian people because your basic/simple power of human reason is highly damaged by the those individuals/tycoons whom you try to defend their evil behavior and action????
Dear ESNFA “Leaders,” you said you will take the issue of our territorial integrity/ sovereignty, the extremely disturbing famine in our country, the total violation of human rights in the absence of justice and basic democratic practices, etc. Aren’t you aware of the fact that all these miserable situations are mainly man- made or the very consequences of dictatorial regime which is strongly supported by groups/individuals such as Alamoudin???? What do you mean by promising to consider?? It is said in the above short report that you were so humble in responding to the journalists. That is good as long as you are ready to respect the people and side with them by taking heart-felt correction as well as apology. There is absolutely NO place for the mere lip service hereafter. It is a very serious and decisive moment to be part of the saviors or the killrs of the our beloved country and its innocent peole.
Thanks
July 4th, 2008 at 12:36 pm
On some Woyane festival, Al Amoudi said: “Thank you Woyane for handing Ethiopia so that I can ride on her as much as I wish. I give my life for the cause of Woyane.”
I think Al Amoudi’s hand is in Teddy Afro’s incarceration in Woyane dungeons. Al Amoudi must have been angry at double affronts by Teddy, one time for his refusal to play at the Sheraton and another time during the Millenium, when Teddy called city residents at the Stadium to celebrate the millenium and his Best Song of the Millenium turned everyone crazy including Beyonce.
Woane and Al Amoudi must have gone mad that this guy who loved Ethiopia and Ethiopians so much was willing to sacrifice anything for his Motherland.
ESFNA should have recalled how the presence of Teddy in a previous ESFNA event electrified Ethiopians.
Now they received money from dirty Al Amoudi ignoring all that history!!
But anyway it is good they admitted their mistakes and are learning it the hard way that you cannot avoid Ethiopians in an event where you expect Ethiopians to attend!
We will come Saturday to appreciate ESFNA for not being a knucklhead like Woyane and Al Amoudi and admitting their mistakes.
May the end of Woyane be near!
May God show the way for Al Amoudi to be with the people of Ethiopia than with the criminal organization called TPLF/Woyane!!
God Bless Ethiopia
July 4th, 2008 at 1:15 pm
Dear EMF,I apreciate realy the way u r tring to get out the hidden action of murdere weyane with ESFNA board members .today weyane cannot send meles or sibhat evrywhere but money like Alamoudi and so on. EMF editor Ato Kiflu thank u that u update ppl and give awarness by any means possible .i saw ur photo in hardtalk where u participated and keep it up.
July 4th, 2008 at 4:57 pm
IF Sheik Mohamed Al Amoudi = WOYANE
IF Sheik Mohamed Al Amoudi = ESFNA
ESFNA=WOYANE
ESFNA IS FREE FROM ANY POLITICAL GROUP. THAT IS NOT TRUE. Sheik Mohamed Al Amoudi IS A GROUP OF WOYANE.
Sheik Mohamed Al Amoudi said, I am a member of Woyane.
YES TO HR-2003
NO TO WOYANE
NO TO Sheik Mohamed Al Amoudi
NO TO ZENAWI’S DICTATOR REGIME
NO TO ESFNA
July 4th, 2008 at 5:59 pm
Good Analysis Berhe!
If Al Amoudi said he will give his life to woyane, Al Amoudi is woyane squared. Because regular woyane may not donate his/her life to destroy Ethiopia. ESFNA is highly connected to Al Amoudi= woyane squared. Therefore, ESFNA is even more than regular woyane.
Those of you who are buying tickets from ESFNA are donating money to Woyane. In other words you are contributing to the destruction of the nation.
July 4th, 2008 at 6:22 pm
Your hard talk brought the return of Alamoudin thank you message that was cancelled before the meeting on thier web site.
So the only temporary meassure is to boycot thier events as much as we can.
July 4th, 2008 at 7:33 pm
The only and democatic way of correcting the mistake is by doing only and only the following 2 things:
1) Return the money to that awefull enemy of Ethiopians
2) The president/and vise president of ESFNA should be fired
July 4th, 2008 at 7:59 pm
Dear ESFNA:
We say to you by gones are by gones, we will forgive and hope this type of mistake won’t happen again. We now embrace you with brotherly love for the sake of our country. We will come and enjoy the games you have prepared for us. I am so glad we are now standing together facing the same one enemy, Woyane and Alamudi.
Folks, let’s go to the events to RFK and let’s enjoy and spend and spend!!! i ma going tonight and until the end!!!
July 4th, 2008 at 10:20 pm
I am so very up set Esefan still they are the frinde of the kilare of ethiopian peupule plese remov them from power ather wise Esfine
We belive anather E.P.R.D.E.F AND THE KILER ??????
July 5th, 2008 at 1:22 am
why there is no News about the Demonstration infront of Weyane embassy in DC ? It was not held ?? why no coverage and no pictures? even Elias did not write about it.
July 5th, 2008 at 6:29 am
Have you guys seen the sponsers? Sheraton Addis, Sunshine construction and Ethiopian Airlines. It’s clear Ethiopian Airlines run by EPRDF, and the other two multi billion dollar business run by ……..