Mengistu Worku
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Mengistu Worku was a legendary Ethiopian footballer, recognised as the best Ethiopian footballer in history.
He is most popularly known for scoring 2 goals in the final of the 3rd African cup against Egypt,when Ethiopia won their only major trophy to date.He finished top scorer of that tournament with 3 goals. He spent his entire career at Saint-George SA, debuting in 1957 wearing the number 8 all his career, for club and country. During his career though, he was given numerous offers from teams in Italy and France as well as Egypt's El Zamalek to play professionally, but like earlier legend and coach Ydnekatchew, he refused all offers, and stayed in Ethiopia wearing the V across his chest,the most visible feature on the Saint George kit.His international career started in 1958 and ended in 1970 after disappointment in the 7th African Nations cup in Sudan where Ethiopia finished bottom of their group.He still mangaged to score 3 goals, the only Ethiopian goals in that tournament.He played 2 more years and retired in 1972 with Saint George.He is the 7th highest scorer in the history of the African Cup Of Nations with 10 goals.
Mengistu also coached the national team after retirement, but could not bring the success to the team the way it had come when he was a player. He did however coach the country to their fist ever CECAFA cup title in 1987, when the tournament was hosted by Ethiopia.
Mengistu has a lot of praise for Mohammed Al Amoudi , the Ethiopian billionaire. Mengistu now in his sixties had started to be forgotten among Ethiopians, even after all the service he has provided his nation.In 2001, Mengistu was struck diseased by a tumor, and doctors had told him he had only months to live. The treatment was not available in Ethiopia and it looked like he was withering to death,when Al Amoudi, paid for the voyage to South Africa, and the treatment. Mengistu was well again. The legendary number 8 stated "It was because of Al Amoudi that I am standing before you today," he said on Ethiopian television. "Let the Son of God, Jesus protect him," Mengistu, an orthodox christian said those remarks, even knowing that Al Amoudi was a muslim.
At the 2002 CECAFA cup, Mengistu was honored before the tournament kickoff by CECAFA, along with 5 other east African legends, and three referees, including Tesfaye Gebreyesus, the legendary Ethiopian official who refereed at three ACN tournaments.
His name is written Mengistu Worku, and not Menguistou or Mengistou contrary to past match reports like the ones cited here [1] here [2] or in the image above.
