Osei Mawuli headlines Amhara Derby, Ethiopia Coffee face Wolkite

Ethiopia Coffee and Wolkite City lock horns in the curtain raiser of today's Betking Ethiopian Premier League week 18 fixtures ahead of the Amhara region fireworks between Bahir Dar City and Fasil City with Ghanaian Striker, Osei Mawuli up against his old Club

Both games will be held at the Adama Science and Technology University Stadium.

Ethiopia Coffee played their 17th week match at Dire Dawa against Hawassa City, so they have had more time to prepare for this fixture.

Coach Yosef Tesfaye's team has drawn each of his last five matches and there is more bad news for Coffee as their Captain Amanuel Yohannes will not be available for the match due to suspension

However, that pales in comparison with their opponents, the team that has it's own problems due to salary payment conundrum, Wolkite will goes into the match without having resolved the situation.

Wolkite City trained only twice before their heavy 0-4 defeat to Bahir Dar City in their 17th week match last week.

Ethiopia Coffee currently occupies the 9th position with 22 points but Wolkite City has 21 points on 13th place on the log.

However, all eyes will be on the second match of the day, the very exciting Amhara Derby , Bahir Dar City versus Fasil City.

The fixture always has a real derby feeling on pitch and on the stands with the fans vibe no matter where it is played.

This season, Bahir Dar City are having fun challenging for the title against Champions St George and Ethiopian Insurance, but Fasil Kenema can't show any consisitency in their matches week after week

The Tana Waves are 2nd, 6 points behind St George 33 points, Fasil on the other hand are 6th with 24 points.

Nevertheless, Fasil's week 17 victory over Wollaita Dicha may give Coach Ashenafi Kebede's team additional motivation going into this game

The reason is the scorer of both goals in that game, Ghaniam Striker Osei Mawuli who will get all the attention on the pitch after he returned to Fasil City a few weeks ago after departed from Bahir Dar City where he had become a cult hero.

Bahir Dar City's Captain Yared Bayeh also faces his former club Fasil City who he led to the title two seasons ago.

Fasil City have won two consecutive matches only once so far in this 2022/23 Betking Ethiopian Premier League season so perhaps this derby provides the tonic to repeat it.