Winning Brazil style…Celebrating Hollywood style…. 
 
The LA Star Soccer team has won the 24th annual Ethiopian Soccer Federation in North America Championship in the presence of more than 10,000 soccer fans at the Homer Johnson Stadium in the city of Garland, Dallas. LA Star won the first game against the San Jose soccer team, 3 to 1 and never looked back. LA Star played the next two games against Boston and Addis Dallas and won 4 to 0 and 3 to 1 respectively and advanced to the semifinal. The semifinal game was expected to be a well balanced game since the Atlanta soccer team was filled with talented players. Indeed it was a very entertaining and exciting game and extremely advanced playing methods were seen from both teams. After half time the Atlanta team defenders could not stop the untouchable LA Star forward Yared and midfielder  Ikechukwum therefore winning 2 to 1 and advancing to the finals.

After the semifinal game the LA Star soccer team had accumulated fans all over because of their outstanding performances on the previous four games. The LA Star team left Los Angeles on Friday morning to San Diego to catch their flight in a luxury bus prepared by one of their sponsors. During their journey the team had established a close bond. After they arrived in Dallas their team spirit was stronger than ever all the while they stayed well disciplined and did their training according to their coach’s plan. The pay-off to their training and discipline was obvious and in every game their performance was unmatched. The coach has trained the same LA Star team since the 2006 championship game and since has secured the trust, respect and admiration among his players and team supporters. The coach who is a veteran star soccer player for the Ethiopian National Team has a lot of experience as a player and a coach and he knew what it took to win a championship. He is serious and means business when dealing with his players.

Saturday was the final game between LA Star of Los Angeles and Baro of Seattle kicking off around 7:00pm. After the game started the Baro team was no match for the LA Star's well trained and disciplined team. Seattle defenders were unable to stop #10 Yared who scored two goals before half time. The second half was scary because LA Star's defense became relaxed and in fact careless committing fouls enabling penalty kicks for the Seattle team. Seattle within a few moments scored two goals and tied the game during the regulation period. They went into overtime and the LA Star team got focused once again and LA Star's midfielder Ikechukwum made two more goals and they won the championship with a score of 4 to 2.The LA Star team in relative terms has played like a Brazilian team during all their matches and gave their fans what they hoped for. If LA Star continues the discipline and the team work they showed in Dallas with no question they will repeat the championship for the third time and keep the trophy for good. To achieve that success the LA Star soccer team has to keep their present coach and start conditioning sooner than usual.

It was no accident that the LA Star team won five trophies and that proves the LA Star team performances as superior in every category they won and has made the tournament more exciting. LA Star's forward Yared Girmma (10) received two trophies as an MVP of the tournament and the star goal scorer. Tadious Getachew (1) and Mengistu Yoseph won the trophy as the best goalie and the best coach of the tournament respectively and finally the team won the overall championship trophy. The LA Star team arrived at the San Diego airport on Sunday 11:00pm and to their surprise they were greeted by a stretch limousine arranged by one of their supporters and kept their team spirit traveling 3 hours to Los Angeles Hollywood Style. All the board members and players of LA Star deserve the praise and the admiration for giving their supporters in Los Angeles and elsewhere a reason to celebrate. LA Star fans have to help their teams financially and prepare them more than ever to make them ready for the challenge in 2008 season. The La Star supporters have to committee to attend ESFNA’s 25th jubilee anniversary to cheer their team as they win the champion trophy for the 3rd consecutive year. As ESFNA is preparing to celebrate its jubilee anniversary in 2008 there is no better drama filled moment than LA Star winning the championship for the 3rd time and make history.

We congratulate ESFNA board members and everyone involved in preparing the 2007 tournament in Dallas and it was by far the best gathering ever. It is a testimony to the community at large that the event has grown from a simple 4 team soccer gathering 24 years ago to a place that as your logo reflects “Bringing Ethiopians Together." We wish you the best and keep up the good work and we will see you at the silver jubilee where ever it might be held.

By Almaw Yohannes

Los Angeles