It wasn't the kind of welcome that the BetKing Ethiopia Premier League new boys wanted as both Shashmene City and Hambericho lost their opening games in the 2023/24 season.
Shashmene lost 0-1 to Wolaitta Dicha and Hambericho were upstaged 2-1 by seasoned campaigners Dire Dawa City.
Wolaitta Dicha scored in the first minute of the second half through Thsegaye Virhanu, which was enough to give them all three points on offer.
Hambericho started like a house on fire against Dire Dawa and they dominated the first-half proceedings.
Their endeavors paid off in the last minute of the first half when they scored through Yehwalashet Fikadu in the 45th minute to take a 1-0 lead into the half-time break.
However, Dire Dawa scored an equaliser just seven minutes into the second half through Elias Ahmed.
In the 64th minute, Charles Musiige found another loophole to give Dire Dawa victory.
The wins for Dire Dawa and Wolaitta Dicha take them into the joint top spot and leaves Shashmene and Hambericho searching for answers in just the first week in the top-flight.