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Match week nine of the Ethiopian Premier League (EPL) is set to take place across the weekend. Hawassa City will host Jimma Aba Jiffar on Saturday while Ethiopia Coffee face Suhul Shire and Mekele City play against Sidama Coffee.

Placed second on the league table, Hawassa City faces a stern test from a visiting Jimma Aba Jiffar side who has won the last EPL title. Hawassa city, having played eight league games, sit second via 14 points following a loss to Sidama Coffee (1-0) in week eight. Hawasa have had a stunning form until the last defeat comparing to top flight clubs. Having had a great run of form, Saturdays encounter will be decisive for the southern capital as to continue their fight to ensure top flight football.

After being knocked out from the CAF Champions League by Al Ahly on a 2-1 aggregate result, Jimma Aba Jiffar will play its fifth EPL match. Jimma have only collected four points out of a possible 12 leaving them 13th on the league table with four remaining matches in hand. Jimma has drawn two consecutive matches playing against Welwalo Adigrat Univeristy and Sidama Coffee.

Tomorrow’s fixture list sees Ethiopia Coffee take on Suhul Shire. Ethiopia Coffee is leading the league table after a draw against St. George in a highly anticipated derby match. Coffee sits atop with 15 points. The newly promoted side, Suhul Shire, is still struggling to get on the right track. Suhul is battling to survive the relegation zone with five points.

In another fixture, Mekele City is to face Sidamma Coffee on home soil. Placed 10th on the league table with eight points, Mekele have won 2 matches, drawn two and lost two matches with two matches in hand. Meanwhile, Sidama Coffee has managed to grab a win (1-0) against Hawassa. The result helped them to third on the league table via 12 points.

Elsewhere, due to the political unrest in the region between the northern clubs, matches has been postponed until the two regions come to a solution. Nonetheless, Fasil City has announced that it is ready to play with Tigray region clubs. Following, the statement from Fasil City, the Ethiopian Football Federation (EFF) has scheduled week nine fixture match between Welwalo Adigrat versus Fasil City. According to the EFF’s statement, both regions have held discussions with higher officials, sport commissions, football federations, and fan associations in order to mediate the issues and come up with a solution.

Ethiopia Coffee tops the league table with 15 points followed by Hawassa with 14 points while Sidama Coffee sits third via 12 points. Bahir Dar City also share the spoils with 12 points placed fourth on goal difference. Suhul Shire, South Police and Dedebit are fighting to survive the dreaded drop to second tier football.

Week nine EPL fixtures

Saturday 5/01/2019

Hawassa City vs. Jimma Aba Jiffar

Mekele City vs. Sidama

Dire Dawa City vs. Bahir Dar City

Dedebit vs. Woliata Dicha

Sunday 6/1/2019

Ethiopia Coffee vs. Suhul Shire

Welwalo Adigrat University vs. Fasil City

Source: The Reporter