Yidnekatchew Tessema facts for kids
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Yidnekatchew Tessema Eshete | ||
| Date of birth | 11 September 1921 | ||
| Place of birth | Jimma, Ethiopia | ||
| Date of death | 19 August 1987 (aged 65) | ||
| Place of death | Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | ||
| Playing position | Striker | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1935–1942 | Saint-George SA | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 1943–1958 | Saint-George SA | 365 | (318) |
| National team | |||
| 1947–1957 | Ethiopia | 15 | (3) |
|
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Yidnekatchew Tessema (pronounced Yid-neh-ka-chew Teh-seh-ma) was a famous footballer from Ethiopia. He was born on September 11, 1921, and passed away on August 19, 1987. Yidnekatchew was not just a great player; he also helped shape football in Africa. He played a big role in creating the rules for the game in his home country and later led a major football organization for the whole continent.
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His Amazing Football Journey
Yidnekatchew Tessema loved football from a young age. He played for his school team for five years. After that, he joined the very first Ethiopian football team, the St. George Club. He played for this club for an incredible 27 years! During his time as a player, he also represented his country, Ethiopia, in 27 international matches.
Making Football Rules Clear
During a time when football was organized differently in Ethiopia, Yidnekatchew did something very important. He translated the rules of soccer into the Amharic language. This helped many more people understand the game. It also made it easier for everyone to play fairly.
Building Sports in Ethiopia
After this period, Yidnekatchew helped set up an official sports group. This group made sure that sports, especially football, could grow and be enjoyed by more people in Ethiopia. He was a true leader in developing sports in his country.
A Leader for African Football
Yidnekatchew Tessema was a very important person in African football. He helped start the Confederation of African Football (CAF) in the late 1950s. CAF is the main group that organizes football across the entire African continent.
Leading CAF for Years
Yidnekatchew served CAF in many ways:
- He was the deputy president from 1964 to 1972. This means he was the second-in-command.
- He then became the President of CAF from 1972 until 1987. This was a very important job, leading all of African football for 15 years!
Other Important Roles
Besides his work with CAF, Yidnekatchew was also involved in other big sports organizations. He was a member of:
- The African Sport Congress
- The International Olympics Committee (IOC)
- FIFA, which is the world's main football organization
- He was also the President of the African Olympics Committee.
Yidnekatchew Tessema's life showed how one person can make a huge difference in sports. He helped football grow in Ethiopia and across all of Africa.
