Former Harambee Stars midfield maestro, Francis Kahata has signed a 1-year Deal with Ethiopian side Sidama. The former Simba SC midfielder already travelled to Addis Ababa to seal a one-year contract with the top-flight outfit.
Kahata is a free agent after he was released by Simba at the end of last season, and in a recent interview, Gor Mahia Sporting Director Omondi Aduda revealed the reason they had not signed the player despite having interest.
Sidama Coffee was founded on August 27, 2006, as Dara Kenema and it was one of three clubs representing the Sidama Zone in the South regional championships in 2006. After that, the club was able to advance to the championships for all regional teams from Ethiopia held in Hawassa that same year.
Dara Kenema finished in the top four of this tournament and by virtue entered the second division of Ethiopian football, the Higher League. The name Dara Kenama was changed to Sidama Coffee as the club was the only team representing the Sidama Zone in the second division.
They won the second division of Ethiopian football, the Ethiopian Higher League (formerly called the National League), in the 2008-09 season (2001 EC) earning a promotion to the Ethiopian Premier League and their first season in the top-flight was the 2009–10 season. The club play their home games at Hawassa Metropolis Stadium in Hawassa, located 14.7 miles from Shashamane and 173 miles from Addis Ababa.