Ydnekatchew Tessema
ABOUT YDNEKATCHEW TESSEMA
One of Ethiopia's greatest athletes; helped establish the country's sports organizations and founded the Ethiopian Sports office.
He played for Saint-George SA from 1943 until 1958.
He led the movement to expel South Africa from African Football in 1960, from the 1971 Olympics, and from FIFA in 1976 because of its ongoing apartheid.
His father, Negadras Tessema Ehete, had been Iyasu V of Ethiopia's Minister of Telegraph and Posts, but when Iyasu was deposed, Negadras was sent into exile.
He, Mengistu Worku, and Luciano Vassalo were widely considered to be the greatest Ethiopian footballers in history.
