Ethiopians waiting for Serbian citizenship and ticket for Beijing

[Crvena zvezda]

Blic talks to two African athletes living in Serbia

Ethiopians waiting for Serbian citizenship and ticket for Beijing

Author: A. Andjelic, T. Dragojevic | 13.03.2008 - 00:25



Serbian athletics need not worry for its results in the sport’s long-distance events for some time, as for the first time ever Serbian athletic team will incorporate top class competitors born in foreign countries.

Athletes Tamrat Legesse, 25, Gebreziber Gebresluse, 28, and Estefanos Eshetu, 18 are training in a Serbian village of Pambukovica near Ub, dreaming of a day when they are conferred the Serbian citizenship and compete for our country at international competitions. Blic has talked to the three men, in their current home near Belgrade.
- “My greatest wish is to become champion of Serbia, then champion of the world and finally to win the gold medal at the Olympic Games,” swiftly responds young Estefanos.
Zoran Molovic, one of the coaches at the Cukaricki Athletic Club, was the first to aid the Ethiopian athletic trio, who sought asylum in Serbia in October, 2007. Molovic has housed the athletes in his estate in Pambukovica, provided them food and supplies and took them under his wing in terms of athletic training.
- “He’s like a father to me. And a coach, of course,” assured is Gebresluse, the oldest of the three long-distance runners born and raised in Ethiopia. During that time, Tamrat offered us refreshments, while Estefanos insists his coach does not smoke in his presence.
- “No smoking, no! Soon we will put up a no smoking sign.”
The bedroom walls of the dilapidated house flash posters of world-famous athletes, dominated by Jamaica’s Asafa Powell – Eshetu’s personal role-model.
- “Asafa is indeed a short-distance runner, but he’s the fastest athlete in the world. You just must respect the man. Also all Ethiopians love Jamaica because of Bob Marley, whose music is still beloved in my home country,” says Estefani.
The now Serbia-based runners have quickly got used to living in Serbia, a continent away from their home of Ethiopia, the country they had fled in fear from mobilization for the war waged against Somalia. They appeal as modest and even detached young men, while in their new home of Serbia they enjoy to prepare roast chicken. Nonetheless they naturally miss their families, which they keep in contact with over the phone.
- “We really like it here, why shouldn’t we? It’s so far like that, and we’ll see what happens. Once I’d departed Ethiopia I left behind my wife and a five-month-old daughter. She’s growing so fast. But I’m here because of athletics and I’m intent on succeeding,” says Gebresluse.
Most fervent hopes are pinned on the youngest member of the Ethiopian trio.
- “We expect Eshetu to shine at the next year’s Universiade and European Championships and possibly win a medal. His personal record in the half-marathon event is one hour and two minutes, while the remaining two are slower by 120 seconds. Eshetu runs 10 km in 29.35 minutes, and 800 m in 1 min, 51 seconds. All three of them have a bright future and I believe they’ll meet the Olympic norm for the Beijing Games,” says Molovic.
As a former Red Star athlete Molovic reiterates his engagement with the Ethiopian runners is not merely of humanitarian nature.
- “I trust in these lads and I’m positive they’ll make excellent results. That’s why I’ve signed a managerial contract with them, according to which a small portion of their future prize money at athletic meetings is to be awarded to me. Soon they will be joined by Olivera Jevtic, as the training conditions in Pambukovica are excellent,” concludes Molovic.

[Sergius]

If I were an African and had to pick a place in Europe to live, Serbia wouldn't be in my top 10.

[Marulus]

Originally Posted by Faustas

If I were an African and had to pick a place in Europe to live, Serbia wouldn't be in my top 10.

Maybe they had no other option?