Getaneh Kebede: Wolkite City’s Former Bidvest Wits Striker Retires From Ethiopia National Team

Getaneh Kebede has confirmed his international career with Ethiopia’s national team has come to an end,  according to Soccer Ethiopia.

The Wolkite City striker appeared 65 times for his nation scoring 33 goals since making his senior national team debut in 2010.

Kebede’s decision will come as a blow to manager Aabetu Abate as he has named the 30-year-old forward in his squad for the upcoming Africa Nations Championship (CHAN) tournament.

The former Bidvest Wits star will therefore be 100% focused on the ongoing Ethiopian Premier League campaign with the Workers.

Ethiopia national team’s next match will be against Mozambique on January 14 which will be their opening match of the CHAN tournament.

Kebede returned to Ethiopia in 2016 and joined his former club Dedebit after a three-year stint at the South African Premier Soccer League outfit.

Ethiopian Premier League Top scorer of the Year on three occasions, twice Best Player of the season then moved St George SC in 2018.

At the beginning of the 2021 season, the striker left the Horsemen after two seasons with the club on mutual consent.

Prior to his exit from St George, he had been linked with a potential move Ethiopia Coffee and champions Jimma Aba Jiffar.

He captained Ethiopia in the 2021 Africa up of Nations where he made headlines after he cooly converted from the penalty spot in the 52nd minute against Burkina Faso, beating the outstretched arm of goalkeeper Farid Ouedraogo.