Mengistu Worku
Encyclopedia
Mengistu Worku was an Ethiopian
footballer, recognised as the best Ethiopian footballer in history. He is best known for his role in the final of the 1962 African Nations Cup, and for being the head coach to took the Ethiopian national football team to the African Nations Cup in Libya in 1982.
and France, as well as Egypt's El Zamalek, but like earlier legend and coach Ydnekatchew
, he refused all offers and stayed in Ethiopia wearing Saint George's characteristic "V" across his chest. Mengistu wore the number 8 for the entirety of his club and national team career. His international career began in 1958 and ended in 1970, following disappointment in the 7th African Nations cup
in Sudan, where Ethiopia finished bottom of their group. He still managed to score 3 goals, the only Ethiopian goals in that tournament. Mengistu played 2 more years with Saint George, retiring in 1972. He is the seventh-highest scorer in the history of the African Cup Of Nations
with 10 goals.
Mengistu coached the national team after retirement, but the team failed to match the success it found during his playing days. He did, however, coach the country to their first-ever CECAFA cup title in 1987, when the tournament was hosted by Ethiopia.
In 2001, Mengistu was struck by a tumor, and doctors had told him he had only months to live. With treatment unavailable in Ethiopia, the Ethiopian billionaire Mohammed Al Amoudi
paid for Mengistu to travel to South Africa for treatment. "It was because of Al Amoudi that I am standing before you today," he said on Ethiopian television.
At the 2002 CECAFA Cup, Mengistu was honored before the tournament kickoff by the Council for East and Central Africa Football Association
, along with five other east Africa
n footballers and three referees, including Tesfaye Gebreyesus, the Ethiopian who refereed at three ACN tournaments.
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
footballer, recognised as the best Ethiopian footballer in history. He is best known for his role in the final of the 1962 African Nations Cup, and for being the head coach to took the Ethiopian national football team to the African Nations Cup in Libya in 1982.
Career
During the 1962 African Nationals Cup, Mengistu scored 2 goals in the final of the 3rd African cup against Egypt, when Ethiopia won their only major trophy to date. Mengistu finished as top scorer of that tournament with 3 goals. He debuted with Saint-George SA in 1957 and remained with the club for the entirety of his career. Mengistu was given numerous offers to play professionally for teams in ItalySerie A
Serie A , now called Serie A TIM due to sponsorship by Telecom Italia, is a professional league competition for football clubs located at the top of the Italian football league system and has been operating for over eighty years since 1929. It had been organized by Lega Calcio until 2010, but a new...
and France, as well as Egypt's El Zamalek, but like earlier legend and coach Ydnekatchew
Ydnekatchew Tessema
Ydnekatchew Tessema is a former Ethiopian president of the Confederation of African Football, footballer, manager and now is an honorary president after his death in 1987.- Early life :...
, he refused all offers and stayed in Ethiopia wearing Saint George's characteristic "V" across his chest. Mengistu wore the number 8 for the entirety of his club and national team career. His international career began in 1958 and ended in 1970, following disappointment in the 7th African Nations cup
1970 African Cup of Nations
The 1970 African Cup of Nations was the seventh edition of the African Cup of Nations, the soccer championship of Africa . It was hosted by Sudan. Just like in 1968, the field of eight teams was split into two groups of four...
in Sudan, where Ethiopia finished bottom of their group. He still managed to score 3 goals, the only Ethiopian goals in that tournament. Mengistu played 2 more years with Saint George, retiring in 1972. He is the seventh-highest scorer in the history of the African Cup Of Nations
African Cup of Nations
The Africa Cup of Nations, also referred to as the African Cup of Nations or African Nations Cup, officially CAN , is the main international association football competition in Africa. It is sanctioned by the Confederation of African Football , and was first held in 1957. Since 1968, it has been...
with 10 goals.
Mengistu coached the national team after retirement, but the team failed to match the success it found during his playing days. He did, however, coach the country to their first-ever CECAFA cup title in 1987, when the tournament was hosted by Ethiopia.
In 2001, Mengistu was struck by a tumor, and doctors had told him he had only months to live. With treatment unavailable in Ethiopia, the Ethiopian billionaire Mohammed Al Amoudi
Mohammed Al Amoudi
Sheikh Mohammed Hussein Ali Al Amoudi Sheikh Mohammed Hussein Ali Al Amoudi Sheikh Mohammed Hussein Ali Al Amoudi (Ge'ez: ሞሓመድ አልአሙዲ, Arabic: محمد حسين العمودي; is a Saudi Arabian/Ethiopian businessman and billionaire who lives in Ethiopia and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. As of 2011, his net worth has...
paid for Mengistu to travel to South Africa for treatment. "It was because of Al Amoudi that I am standing before you today," he said on Ethiopian television.
At the 2002 CECAFA Cup, Mengistu was honored before the tournament kickoff by the Council for East and Central Africa Football Association
Council for East and Central Africa Football Association
The Council for East and Central Africa Football Associations is an association of the football playing nations in Eastern Africa. It is also an affiliate of CAF.It is arguably the oldest sub-regional football organisation in Africa.-History:...
, along with five other east Africa
East Africa
East Africa or Eastern Africa is the easterly region of the African continent, variably defined by geography or geopolitics. In the UN scheme of geographic regions, 19 territories constitute Eastern Africa:...
n footballers and three referees, including Tesfaye Gebreyesus, the Ethiopian who refereed at three ACN tournaments.