Former Eddie Velado-Tsegaye Accepts Ethiopia Call-Up

Former FC Edmonton forward Marcus Velado-Tsegaye has accepted the call from the Ethiopian national team ahead of their US tour next month.

Born in Edmonton to a Salvadoran Mother and Ethiopian Father, he’s had quite a journey en route to what may be his first senior appearance: having initially held out for a Canada U-20 call up, he opted to test the waters the El Salvador U-20 team two years ago, but now looks set to take his first senior steps with Ethiopia instead.

The Ethiopian national team will face Guyana on August 2 before facing semi-pro UPSL side Atlanta Rovers three days later.

Named a CPL Top 23 Under 23 athlete in 2021, the forward – who had progressed through the FC Edmonton Academy – made 31 appearances for the Eddies throughout the club’s first three CPL seasons, contributing three goals. He left ahead of the club’s final season, though landing outside of the pro game stalled any visible progress with either Canada or El Salvador.

Though Marcus trialed for a Canadian Premier League return this season, the former Eddies forward wound up as one of several former CPL athletes to be recruited by League1 Ontario side Scrosoppi FC, where the top-of-the-table team has already secured top flight status. Marcus has made 10 appearances for the side, contributing two goals this season.

Now getting game time at the semi-professional level, it looks like the 22-year-old will experience a taste of senior team international action.

While his time with FC Edmonton showed that he can play on both sides of the wing, it remains to be seen where Ethiopia might deploy him – or if he’ll get to make his senior international debut next month.

The first match against Guyana will take place on August 2 at Sega Field Stadium in Washington. That’s actually a belated friendly that had originally been set for July 8, with Ethiopia following that up with a second match on August 5 against the Atlanta Rovers at the Southern Crescent Stadium.

Header Image Photo Credit: Zoe Keck / League1 Ontario