Tigrayan football captain Anteneh Gebrekirstos Haile vividly remembers the day in July 2019 when his team Mekelle 70 Enderta won their first Ethiopian Premier League title.
The stadium in Tigray’s capital Mekele “was full of energy and enthusiasm, and the seats were full of passionate fans”, the 31-year-old recalled, describing it as “the happiest day of my life”.
But a two-year war between Ethiopia’s government and Tigray’s rebel authorities has left the stadium an empty shadow of its former self, while the region was torn apart before a November 2022 peace deal ended the fighting.
The conflict has attracted Tigrayans from all walks of life, including football players like Anteneh, a native of Mekele who told AFP that “the war was devastating and damaging, not just for me or the Tigray region, but for the entire Ethiopia”.
“There was a prevailing mentality that rather than die at home, it was preferable to go to war,” he said.
“We turned on each other.”
– Haunted by trauma –
Mekelle 70 Enderta is one of three Tigrayan teams, along with Shire Endaselassie and Welwalo Adigrat University, that have been readmitted to the Ethiopian Premier League for the first time since the conflict.
Kibrom Asbeha, a 26-year-old striker for Mekelle 70 Enderta, told AFP that he and his younger brother took up arms to find their parents, who had joined the fight.
He suffered many painful losses, including his brother who died in battle, before the peace agreement ended the conflict and allowed him to reunite with his parents.
Even in the heat of battle, his love for football never left him.
“I even watched Ethiopian Premier League games on Facebook Live, holding out hope that after the war I would be able to play football again,” he said.
But returning home was not easy.
In addition to a chronic shortage of money – none of the team members receive a salary – the trauma of the conflict lingers.
“On the battlefield, the intensity of the moment often masks the emotions, but the memories haunt you when you return home,” he said.
In addition to killing countless numbers of people, the Tigray war was also marked by cruel sexual violence perpetrated by all parties.
UN investigators also accused Ethiopia’s government of using starvation tactics against Tigray in an attempt to weaken rebel authorities.
– ‘Unifying force’ –
Coach Goytom Haile told AFP it was difficult to get the players back on the field and bring them together as a team after the fighting calmed down.
“It took us a long time to bring everyone together and help them transition back into social life and focus on football,” said the 39-year-old.
“The war has robbed us of many things… It will take some time to catch up, but we will get there,” he said, urging the government and wealthy Ethiopians to help the team get back on its feet.
He said he sees football as “a unifying force”, citing the role played by Ivorian legend Didier Drogba in negotiating a ceasefire in his war-torn country.
In Ethiopia too, Goytom remains hopeful that the beautiful game can help his fellow citizens “overcome hatred and learn to appreciate each other.”
– ‘Help us rebuild’ –
Their efforts have already seen the team earn a place in the Ethiopian Premier League, raising fans’ hopes that their glory days are yet to come.
“If we support each other and perform well next season, everything will get better,” said Zelalem Etakility, a fan since he was a teenager.
“Even if it’s not like it was before, I’m optimistic that this will change,” the 30-year-old told AFP. “Football can help us rebuild politically, economically and financially.”
For Anteneh, returning to the pitch has already brought a measure of “healing… and hope”.
His team has maintained an unbeaten streak this season, with 11 wins and four draws in the 15 games played so far.
“We are striving to rebuild our (pre-war) way of life and recover the spirit of those times,” he said.
“We’re back to what we love most: playing football.”
bur-amu/txw/js
