Fasil City Star and Ethiopia International, Yihun Endshaw says "playing for National Team will always give you a special happiness"
Endshaw also also talks about the impact of DStv on the League and his love for Fasil City fans in this Q&A with supersport.com where we ask BetKing Ethiopia Premier League players the most uncomfortable questions
SUPERSPORT.COM :- CAN WE SAY THE FAMOUS AMHARA DERBY, FASIL KENEMA VERSUS BAHIRDAR KENEMA HAS HAD A REAL DERBY FEELING?
Endshaw:- The game has the real derby mentality, maybe there will be a gap between the teams now due to Fasil City's recent success, but that doesn't take away the competitive spirit between the two teams, but the derby is real derby.
Nowadays the fans rivalry is increased. This year we had shown our superiority by drawing in the first round and we then won the second-round tie.
supersport.com :- Do you think the change of coach at Fasil didn't come at a good time?
Endshaw:- The changes come from inconvenience of the pitch size rather than change of coaches. Our team's system needs wide pitches. We are used to play long and short balls, so we need wide pitches. The matches that we dropped points are on narrowed pitches.
Adama University Stadium and Dire Dawa International Stadium pitches are not wide enough, so they were not comfortable for us.
They are only suitable for a team who wants to play on the counterattack, but it hurts us a lot. So, i don't think that the change is from replacement of coaches. There is no change on the squad, so I think it happened from the pitch's situation.
SUPERSPORT.COM :- HAVE YOU EVER HAD THE CHANCE TO PLAY OVERSEAS OR ON OTHER LEAGUES ?
Endshaw :- I haven't had the opportunity of playing abroad, also no one has tried to get me probably because unlike many other Players, I am playing with my real age meaning the age stated on my passport is my correct age.
SUPERSPORT.COM:- WHAT ARE YOU SAYING?
Endshaw:- What I am saying is that I think I didn't get to play abroad because of my real age on my passport. If I had reduced my age, then maybe I would have been offered the chance to go abroad.
supersport.com:- How do you rate the Ethiopia Premier League, strong or weak?
Endshaw: - This last two seasons has witnessed a big change. It has good competitiveness. I think the change comes from the advent of DSTV. By the way, we hope the Clubs can all begin to pay players salary on time maybe we can see better motivation.
However, what has been great is that you can't predict the outcome of games these days because of the competitive nature of the League now
SUPERSPORT.COM:- DOES FASIL CITY PAY PLAYERS ON TIME?
Endshaw:- There isn't a delay with Fasil City. The Club is very organised, and they pay us promptly on the exact date agreed for us to receive our payments monthly.
SUPERSPORT.COM:- WHAT CAN YOU SAY ABOUT FASIL CITY FANS ? HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THEM?
Endshaw: Fasil City fans are very special. They truly love their club from their veins. I love them and i have a huge respect for them.
If they can't attend at the stadiums, they will support wherever they, are they will support the club all around the country and always they are with us.
SUPERSPORT.COM: YOU ARE AN ETHIOPIA INTERNATIONAL AND THE INTERNATIONAL WINDOW MEANS NO LEAGUE GAMES, DOES PLAYING FOR NATIONAL TEAM GIVE YOU ANY SPECIAL PLEASURES?
Endshaw:- Definitely, without a doubt. One of the successes for all players is playing for national team and wearing the jersey. Playing for National Team gives you special happiness rather than playing for club.
SUPERSPORT.COM: FASIL WAS ON A RUN OVER THE LAST 13 MATCHES WHERE THE CLUB COLLECTS 39 POINTS AND THAT PUTS YOU IN THE TITLE RACE BUT HOW CAN YOU EXPLAIN YOUR DEFEAT TO DIRE DAWA WHO HAVE BEEN HOVERING IN THE RELEGATION ZONE?
Endshaw:- i don't want to talk about that defeat.
SUPERSPORT.COM:- CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT YOUR WIFE WHO WAS ALSO A FOOTBALL PLAYER?
Endshaw:- My wife's name is Aynalem Kebede. She was born at Hawassa. We first met at Dire Dawa, and she plays for Dire Dawa Ketema women's team. Then she stopped playing football and we married in 2018.
SUPERSPORT.COM:- SO THAT IF BOTH OF YOU ARE PLAYERS, THEN YOUR HOME WILL BE LIKE PREMIER LEAGUE.
Endshaw:- No she understands all. Even she is my personal analyst. I was very aggressive at matches before, but she helped me to stop this.
When the League was at Dire Dawa, she attended the match and corrects me on the occasions.
Beyond football, She helped me a lot in other areas and i want to thank her and want to say I love her.
SUPERSPORT.COM:- ANY LAST WORDS?
Endshaw:- May God keep our country's peace