Former Electric & Ethiopian National player Fekade Muleta passed away

Addis Ababa – Former Electric (aka EELPA, Mebrat Hayl) and Ethiopian national team striker Fekade Muleta passed away here today at the age of 66 after a short illness. 

Muleta, who was born in Meta Robi, Shoa region in 1954, served Electric both as a player and coach helping the team win 3 Ethiopian Cup trophies and nurturing future stars like Elias Juhar. 

In his prime, Muleta was considered as one of the most creative players that the country has produced and he could easily have played for the Ethiopian national team for many years just like his teammate Mohamed Ali did, but his constant clash with head coaches cost him dearly. 

The highlight of his career includes his 2 goals in the final of the 1971 Ethiopian Cup when Electric was a goal down to Dire Dawa Cotton courtesy to a goal by the legendary Luciano Vassalo, Muleta scored 2 goals enabling his team to win the first of its 3 cup finals. The match ended with Electric 3 and Dire Dawa Cotton 1. as Muleta was named Player of the Game.

The following year, he helped the team win its second trophy in a row as they beat Embaysora of Eritrea thanks to Mohammed Ali’s goal. The team reached the final of the Ethiopian Cup for the third year in a row but lost to arch-rivals St George due to a dubious goal. Defender Alemayehu Haile Selassie “Figna’ scored the winning goal after clearly tapping the ball with his hand and hitting the ball in the back of the net.  

The team had to wait two more years (1976) to win its third Ethiopian Cup and the following year took part in the Africa Clubs Championship, where they lost 4-0 away and 2-0 at home to the mighty Enugu Rangers of Nigeria. 

Following the reorganization of the country’s football, which disbanded the old teams including the likes Electric, St George, Ethiopian Airlines, and others, he joined Ermejachen, where the team won the 1980 Ethiopian Cup and the 1981 Ethiopian Championship.

Ethiopian Cup winners:

Electric FC (3): 1971,1972 and 1976

Ermejachen (1): 1980

Ethiopian Championship (1):

Ermejachen FC (1): 1981

Here at Ethiosports, we would like to express our condolences to his family.