Match Preview:- St George Vs Jimma Abba Jifar

Ethiopian Premier League 10th week matches will be played at Addis Ababa and regional states' stadiums starting tomorrow. St George’s this week opponent is Jimma Abba Jifar at Addis Ababa stadium. The match will take place tomorrow, Thursday, at Addis Ababa stadium with kick off 5:00pm.

Jimma Abba Jifar from Higher League to Premier League!

Jimma Abba Jifar had been participating in the highly competitive league in 2016/17 in its former name, Jimma Kenema, before changed to the current one at the end of the season. This club champion of its zone winning Welwalo Adigrat University at Diredawa stadium to join the Premier League. The winning goal was scored by Jimma Kenema player, Aklasia Girma, a penalty at the 22nd min.

Jimma Abba Jifar after joining the Premier League, strengthen its squad. Primarily, they brought in G/ Medhin Haile, whose team Jimma Abba Bunna was relegated to Higher League. GebreMedhin Haile is a coach with a lot of experience in the Ethiopian Premier League. The club also signed 10 new players and renewed 8 players' contract.

Dawit Assefa, Henok Adugna, Henok Esayas, Biniam Siraj, Endale Debalke, Ashenafi Gebru, Getu Refera, Samson Kolecha, Yonas Geremew, Yehun Endeshaw, Aminu Nesru and other players joined the club within the country.

Besides players from within the country, Jimma Abba Jifar signed 3 foreigner players. Ghanaian goalkeeper Daniel Oje, Malian Sissoko Adama and Nigerian striker Akaki Afolabi joined the team. But since Daniel Oje went to his country and did not return, currently it is Daniel Assefa, this season's signing from Weldia, who is keeping Jimma Aba Jifar's net.

Current season's numbers of these two teams!

St George so far had 7 Premier League matches winning 3 and drawing 4. Jimma Abba Jifar on the other hand, had 9 matches and won 4, lost 3 and drew 2. Based on this, St George is sitting 3rd on the Premier League table collecting 14 points and Jimma Abba Jifar is 2nd with 14 points.

Jimma Abba Jifar had 4 away matches. Out of those they won 1, lost 2 an draw 1. The match it won was against Arbaminch Kenema by 3-1. The losses were against Mekelle Kenema and Diredawa Kenema with 1-0 both. Jimma Abba Jifar played against Ethio Electric to draw 0-0, the first of this season's EPL matches at Addis Ababa Stadium. Jimma Abba Jifar in all of its 4 away matches scored 3 goals and conceded 3.

St George's opponent, Jimma Abba Jifar had 5 Premier League home matches in the current season. Out of those 5, they won 3, lost 1 and draw 1. The 3 matches won were against Hawassa Kenema with 2-0, Ethiopia Coffee with 2-0 and Welwalo Adigrat University with 3-0 scoring 7 goals in total. The match it lost in front of its fans was against Fasil Kenema by 1-0. Jimma Abba Jifar played at Adama stadium its home match against Sidama Bunna because it's stadium was banned. The match was a 0-0 draw. Jimma Abba Jifar in all its home matches scored 7 goals and conceded 1.

St George in 7 matches, scored 8 goals and conceded 2 while Jimma Abba Jifar on the other hand, in 9 matches scored 10 and conceded 4. St George on average scored 1.14 goals per game and Jimma Abba Jifar scored 1.1. St George on average conceded 0.4 goals per game and Jimma Abba Jifar conceded 0.44.

Jimma Abba Jifar's game plan!

Although coach G/Medhin Haile's team looked weak at the beginning of the league, it is collecting vital points from recent matches. Their consecutive win of 3 matches is one proof. In contrary, St George from its last 3 matches, it won 1 and draw 2.

Coach G/Medhin Haile is used to bringing challenging team when playing against St George. Even when he was coaching Mekelakeya, St George had a difficulty in beating his team. Currently, G/Medhin Haile turned to 4-4-2 formation and became successful with it.

These are the players Jimma Abba Jifar mostly used in the 4-4-2 formation:-

Goalkeeper:- Dawit Assefa

Defenders:- Henok Adugna, Adama Sissoko, Biniam Siraj, Elias Ataro

Midfielders:- Henok Esayas, Yehun Endeshaw, Amin Nesru, Yonas Geremew

Strikers:- Temesgen GebreKidan, Akiki Afolabi

Jimma Abba Jifar lost 3 key players due to injury in the match they won Welwalo Adigrat University by 3-0. The wing midfielders Yonas Geremew and the center forwards Akaki Afolabi and Temesge G/Kidandid not finish the game against Welwalo AdigratUniersity. If the players, especially the 2 strikers, will not be fit for match, is expected that coach G/Medhin Haile will come with a different formation.

Jimma Abba Jifar has a strong defense and defends as a team. The 2 strikers have good involvement in the team's defense. They press opponents in their own fields so they won't be able to build the ball. And the right and left defenders assist in attacking keeping balance. Especially Henok Adugna's play is remarkable. His passes to the winger and center forwards after reducing a player are excellent. This right defender covers his line better than the left defender.

Jimma Abba Jifar tries building up the ball from their goalkeeper to reach opponent's danger zone. They prefer short passes and their transition from defense to attack is good. Especially when being pressed, the way the 2 strikers wait for the ball near to their own field for counter attack is the team's strength. Jimma Abba Jifar this season goals with this transition from defense to attack is mainly a result of this 2 strikers effort.

This match is expected to be St George's consecutive challenge with 4-4-2 formation. Its previous match against Mekelakeya was with 4-4-2 formation and if Jimma Abba Jifar comes with 4-4-2, it will be the 2nd one in 5 days. Last week against Mekelakeya, St George had number upper hand in midfield and could build the ball easily and repeatedly reach their opponent's 3rd of the field. But they had difficulty to break the opponent's defense and create goal opportunities.

Injuries in St George House!

Ame Mohammed, Salhadin Seid, Natnael Zeleke, Abdulkarim Nikima, Tadele Mengesha and Gadisa Mebrate will not be part of this match.

We will win!
We have full faith in Sanjaw!