In accord with his own prior verbal instructions, the Funeral service for late Yidnekatchew Tessema had to be carried out only seventeen hours after he was pronounced dead at the Army Hospital in Addis Ababa at 11:00 P.M. on the 19th of August 1987. Albeit the short notice between the announcement of his death on Ethiopian Radio at 9:00 A.M. and the Funeral seven hours later; thousands of his fellow country men and women flocked to the Ketchene Medhanialem Church in Addis Ababa, to pay their last respect to a fatherly sports figure they had idolized for decades.

The spontaneous international reaction was no different. Soon as news of his death was officially released by the Headquarters of the African Football Confederation in Cairo, unaware that the Funeral was only a few hours away, colleagues who wished to attend were desperately asking for date and time of funeral. The family received their appreciated messages and explained the situation only after the ceremony was concluded. Nevertheless, a flurry of condolence messages from all over the World continued to be received by:

The Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
The Headquarters of the African Football Confederation (CAF) in Cairo
Yidnekatchew Tessema's office in Addis Ababa
The Ethiopian Sports Commission, the National Olympic Committee, and the Football Federation
The headquarters in Yaoundé-Cameroon; of the Supreme Council of Sports in Africa (SCSA)

The messages were unanimous in acknowledging and paying highest tribute to the tact skill and tenacity with which the deceased led the complex and challenging efforts for the integration of Africa into the Global Sports Organizations; which for well known historical reasons were established in her absence.

Some expressed specific appreciation for one of his last significant successes in convincing the IAAF to replace the outdated and unfair proportional vote system in its Congresses, with the fundamental democratic principle of "One Country one Vote", justice as in FIFA. Ironically Yidnekatchew Tessema died seven days before the IAAF officially adopted his proposal, at the end of the Congress held in Rome from 25 to 27 August 1987. Commenting on this milestone achievement; Mr. Lamine Ba, at the time Secretary General of the Supreme Council for Sports in Africa, said; "It was a formidable victory and it fully reflects the spirit of the combat Tessema had been leading for many years to have Africa better represented in International Federations and better listened to."

As can be seen in the telexes attached to the links below; African Sports leaders of the time had befittingly used the common adjectives Combatant and militant to describe Yidnekatchew Tessema. To quote from just two; Togolese Anani Mathia, at the time President of the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa described him as a "Combatant of rare Competence;" while Mr. Kamel Bouchama, Algerian Minister and at the time President of the Supreme Council for Sports in Africa, started his message with a similar distinctive tribute, "Grand Homage to a Grand Militant."

Queen Sylvia of Sweden, President Mengistu Hailemariam of Ethiopia, President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt, President Mathieu Kerekou of Benin, Secretary General Ide Oumarou of the Organization of African Unity, Prince Faisal Fahd Bin Abdul Aziz of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Sheikh Fahd Al Ahmad Al Sabah of the Kingdom of Kuwait, Prince Albert de Monaco, the family of the late Mr. Horst Dassler of ADIDAS, President Juan Antonio Samaranch of the IOC, President Jacques Georges of the Union of European Football Associations, President Tan Sri Haji Hamzah of the Asian Football Confederation, Secretary General Joseph Sepp Blatter of FIFA, Secretary General Carlos Carrera of CONCACAF; were among the prominent personalities whose appreciated messages of condolences were received by the family.

In retrospect, these condolence messages from Yidnekatchew Tessema’s long time colleagues were much more than mere emotional lamentations; rather, they were treasures of accurate reference histories on the arduous three decades long parallel efforts exerted towards the all-round development of sports in the just decolonized Africa and towards obtaining its rightful place in International Sports competitions and Organizations; as written by colleagues with fresh memories of the arduous chronology of events.

To mark the 22nd Anniversary of Yidnekatchew Tessema's death, this website shares the timeless authentic messages received and safeguarded by the family for nearly a quarter of a century now.

Condolences from Africa
Condolences from the International football family
Condolences from the Olympic family

Likewise, coverage of his death on some prominent publications contained facts of paramount significance to the General histories of International Sports. In this connection, until such time I request and obtain written permit for the reproduction of the coverage on the renowned "Jeune Afrique Magazine" Number 1395 of September 1987, I have for now published the:

Coverage on CAF NEWS October 1987
Coverage on Champion D’Afrique October 1987
Coverage on Champion D’Afrique February 1988
Coverage on Champion D’Afrique June 1988

The condolences soon gave way to a series of unprecedented high profile recognitions and celebrations of his life. Accordingly:

• On 11 September 1987; the Government of the Peoples Democratic Republic of Ethiopia awarded him posthumous, “The Red Sea 1ST Grade Medal” with the citation “In Recognition of ENORMOUS contribution to Ethiopian Sports”

• The African Football Confederation organized the 40th day Commemoration at the Marriot Hotel in Cairo on 28 September 1987 during which Yidnekatchew Tessema was awarded posthumous, the Confederation’s first “ORDER OF MERIT IN GOLD” with the title “EXCEPTIONAL”.

• At its Congress in Abuja, Nigeria; the Supreme Council for Sports in Africa recognized him posthumous, first with its Certificate of Honor on the 28th and then it’s Order of Merit in Gold on the 30th of November 1987.

• On 13 February 1988 a Tombstone erected by the family at a prime spot in the compound of the Kechene Medhanialem Church kindly availed to us by the then Patriarch, His Holiness Abune Tekle Haimanot of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, was ceremoniously unveiled with wreaths from the Secretary General of the Organization of African Unity and the Minister of Culture and Sports of Ethiopia, among others. Although the remains could not be moved from the then half a century old family burial house for historical reasons, considering the access difficulty to the old cemetery, erecting the new TOMBSTONE in a more convenient location within the Church was necessary. Issa Hayatou, the successor of Yidnekatchew Tessema as the President of CAF, was the first International personality to come to Addis and lay wreath at this new Tombstone.

• The General Assembly of the African Football Confederation held in Casablanca on 10 March 1988 permanently dedicated the African Youth Cup to the name of Yidnekatchew Tessema in recognition of his meritorious services to the all-round development of African Football and also made him posthumous Honorary President of the Confederation.

• His Majesty Hassan the 2nd of Morocco gave him the highest recognition yet; with the dedication of a Sports Complex in Casablanca to his name, which was inaugurated with a grand Government ceremony on 12 March 1988.

• On 26 March 1988, Adidas; the global Sports kits and equipment Manufacturer, organized a commemoration ceremony at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Casablanca entitled “Homage to Yidnekatchew Tessema” and attended by the participants, officials, and journalists gathered in Morocco for the 16th African Cup of Nations.

• On April 07 1988 the “WHO” which was celebrating its 40th Anniversary together with the World’s first no Tobacco day, recognized his lifelong struggle against the publicity of Tobacco in African Sports Arenas with its First Medal "For Achievement Worthy of International Recognition in promoting the concept of Tobacco Free Societies".

• The Ethiopian Soccer Federation in North America dedicated the cup for its annual tournament held in Virginia, USA from June 29 to July 03 1988, to the name of Yidnekatchew Tessema.

• At its Congress in Zurich on 01 July 1988; FIFA awarded Yidnekatchew Tessema its highest distinction “Order of Merit in Gold.”

• The Addis Ababa Box Federation had organized a good number of annual boxing tournaments in his name since the year he passed away.

Ten years later, on the 19th of August 1997, the African Football Confederation commemorated the 10th year Anniversary of his death at a ceremony attended by the African Football family on a Marriott Hotel Luxury boat on the River Nile in Cairo. In the  FOREWORD he wrote to the biography of Yidnekatchew Tessema which I published specifically for this occasion; Dr. Joao Havelange, the President of F.I.F.A. at the time; gave an excellent insight on the personality and the achievements of Yidnekatchew Tessema, his late friend and long time colleague in both F.I.F.A. & the International Olympic Committee. The FOREWORD by FIFA President Dr. Joao Havelange

On 14 March 2001, The Society of Friends of the Institute of Ethiopian Studies awarded him its second posthumous memorial Certificate. The first went to his meritorious father "Tessema Eshete".

Saint George Sports Club had erected a memorial TOMBSTONE in the premises of the Headquarters of the club and has in the past few years remembered him with end of year football tournaments for children.

At a ceremony held at the Washington Hilton in Washington D.C.; on 27 May 2007, the Society of Ethiopians Established in Diaspora (SEED), honoured him with its respectable annual award with the citation "For Pioneering Modern Sports in Ethiopia and in Recognition of his leadership role in Global Football"

In conclusion it is appropriate to underline that Yidnekatchew Tessema had also earned the significant testimonials below, from all three successive Government Leaders of his own country:

.........."Our appreciation goes, in particular to Yidnekatchew Tessema and to all those who have unceasingly devoted themselves to the Federation since the early days"... His Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie the 1st of Ethiopia

......"His life long and outstanding contributions to the World of Sports and particularly to the promotion of football in Africa has earned him the respect of his country and of the World.....' Comrade President Mengistu Haile Mariam of the Peoples Democratic Republic of Ethiopia

......"On this occasion, I wish to pay tribute to my compatriot the late Yidnekatchew Tessema who dedicated his life for the development of African football"....... H.E. Prime Minister Meles Zenawi of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia

The family is very grateful to all Governments, National and International Institutions, personalities and publications; which have given due recognition to his selfless four decades long dedicated services and achievements; to National and International sports Movements.