Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – Ghanaian midfielder Umar Bashiru has candidly reflected on the turbulent campaign his club, Commercial Bank Ethiopia Sports Association (CBE SA), is enduring in the Ethiopian Premier League this season.

CBE SA, the reigning champions, find themselves in unfamiliar territory, languishing in 16th place with just nine points from nine games. Their record of two wins, three draws, and four losses marks a sharp contrast to the dominance they displayed last season.

Bashiru, who joined the club from Ethiopian Insurance (Medhin) after their historic league title triumph, spoke to Pan-Africa Football about the team’s struggles.

“Our performance this season hasn’t been great. We are having trouble winning matches,” Bashiru admitted. Despite creating plenty of chances, their inability to convert them into goals has left the team in a precarious position.

The 28-year-old dismissed any hopes of retaining the league title, emphasizing survival as the team’s immediate focus. “Our priority now is to win games and build confidence,” he stated.

Having featured in four matches this season, Bashiru remains determined to contribute more and help his team climb out of the relegation zone. For now, his goal is to inspire a turnaround and revive the spark that made them champions just a season ago.