The Ethiopian Premier League Share Company has announced that the top flight will take place in Adama instead of the capital Addis Ababa. Clubs from Addis Ababa were eager to see games being played in Addis Ababa but the league opted to move it to Adama from previous location Dire Dawa where all league matches this season have been held.
There is no official reason given as to why Adama is chosen instead of Addis Ababa. The league company statement reads, “From week 12 to week 19, encounters will take place at the Adama Science and Technology University Stadium. The games will kick off on 3rd of January.”
Addis Ababa hasn't staged a league game since the 2020/21 season. Different reasons were given and among them was the refurbishment of Addis Ababa Stadium. Some critics say it is a strategy taken by the government to silence opposition voices arising from stadiums in Addis Ababa.
Clubs from the capital, especially arch rivals Saint George and Ethiopian Coffee, continue to lose ticket sales revenue since matches are being played outside of Addis Ababa. Adama is some 68 kilometers away east of capital Addis Ababa and has been used as a venue for league matches in recent times.
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