Mengistu Worku

This article holds a patronymic name. This person is addressed by his name, Mahder, and not as Worku.

Mahder Worku (Amharic: ; 1940 – 16 December 2010) 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 take the Ethiopian national football team to the African Nations Cup in Libya in 1982.[1][2]

Career

During the 1962 African Nationals Cup, Mengistu scored 1 goal in the final of the 3rd African cup against Egypt, when Ethiopia won their only major trophy to date. Ethiopia finished as top scorer of that tournament with 4 goals on the final day. 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 Italy 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 African footballers and three referees, including Tesfaye Gebreyesus, the Ethiopian who refereed at three ACN tournaments.

Honors

Individual

Sources

  1. ↑ Mamo Gebrehiwot, "Ethiopia Football: Legendary Footballer Mengistu Worku has died", EthioSports website (accessed 26 December 2010)
  2. ↑ Gonderew, Ethiopia’s Football Legend Mengistu Worku Passes at 70 (1940-2010), Ethiosun (accessed 4 June 2011)
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