Habib Kemal is one of the best left-footed players currently playing in the BetKing Ethiopia Premier League. This player, who started his football career with the former Mebrat Hayil ,now Ethio Electric, played for Arbaminch city last year and this year he is playing for Ethiopian Insurance.
He has been the outstanding player for Ethiopian Insurance this season and he has scored 10 goals.
Habib Kemal grew up playing football in the Ethiopian capital City, Addis Ababa in an area commonly known as "Chew Berenda".
He started his career while being trained by coach Esaias in a project called Mershu Hotel. He would go on to begin his professionalat the former Mebrat Hayil, now known as Ethio Electric.
"At that time, coach Tadios sent me for recruitment to Mebrat Hayil C team. I passed the recruitment and joined the team."
Habib would spend one year in Mebrat Hayil C team before he joined the Reserve team and spent three years there and was subsequently promoted to the main team.
He played two years in the Ethio Electric first team, then joined Kolfe but was there for only six months before he joined the Crocodiles by signing for Arbaminch City in 2021.
"Arbaminch City team was made up mostly of young players. We didn't have enough experienced players."
It was after a year's stay in Arbaminch that he moved to Ethiopia Insurance, the team who are coached by coach Gebremedihn Haile.
Habib believes Arbaminch city was where he really thrived. "There is one person who helped me for this," he says. "I was just trying to take free kicks in training, but the Kenyan Eric Kapaito showed me a lot of things. He helped me a lot."
"Adis Negash was my role model from Ethiopia, especially when I was in the Mebrat Hayil C team. I am also a fan of Robin Van Persie abroad. I also see Cristiano Ronaldo as my role model."
Ethiopian Insurance has surprised One of the clubs many seasons in the BetKing Ethiopia Premier League . The team was in contention for the title until recent weeks.
This is how Habib explains what has happened since the preparation. "As you know, our coach is an experienced coach in the Premier League. We were preparing hard during the pre-season. Coach Gebremedihn was giving us trainings that keep us the whole year."
When the Premier League started, in the first match, Ethiopia Insurance faced the league's giant club Saint George. Ethiopia Insurance lost 7-1 in the match. After the result of this match, many expressed their concern for Ethiopia's Insurance. But in the next matches, the team improved itself and led the league.
Habib describes the spirit of the team after this match. "In our first match, we faced last year's champion. And there was psychological pressure. But even so, we were ready to come out with something from the match. Even if the result ended like that, we were not too shocked because we were sure that we can change ourselves in the next marches."
Habib Kamal says that the reason for the improvement of the team's results since the second week was their unity and accepting what their coach said. "Our union and unity, as well as our good implementation of what our coach tells us, have payed us in results. There is no reason where there is unity and love within a team to get good results."
The coach of the team, Gebremedhn Haile, was able to become the champion of the league in the past with Jimma Aba far and Mekele 70 Enderta. Unexpectedly this year, Coach Gebremedhin has made Insurance a competitor of the league.
This is how Habib describes him. "Gebremedhin Haile is the best coach that everyone knows. It is difficult to talk about him in words like that. His work speaks well of him."
Habib, who said that this year's competition was better than last year's competitiveness, he offered the closeness of points as one reason.
Apart from the St. George match, there was another match that really challenged us, he says. Hadiya Hossana. "After the defeat of St George, we played matches which have challenged us, but the match we played against Hadiya Hossana in the first round was the hardest."
When he asked about the defender who tested him in the matches he played in the league, his answer was as follows. "There is no defender who has challenged me much, but if i must name one, it would be Hadiya Hossana's Henock Arfichu."
Habib hopes to wear the jersey of the national team. He says that it is his dream that he will achieve soon.
He also said that he is interested in achieving better results with the club Ethiopia Insurance. He also wishes to one day play for the Ethio Electric where he grew up with before he ends his career.
The player chooses to spend time with his friends outside of training and match times and he wants to "thank my family and former Coaches for how much support helped me get to this point in my career."
Habib's choice for the Player of the season will surprise many. "There is no doubt that it is Basiru Umar. He is the phenomenon of this season."