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Among Ethiopians in U.S., a once-unifying soccer tournament now divides

Ethio­pians living in the United States are used to navigating political differences that stem from power struggles in their native country. For decades, amateur soccer leagues were immune, but that is no longer the case.

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July 1, 2012 

Salsawi Kebede, left, Robel Desta, center, and Mubarek Mohamed of the D.C. Ethio Stars Football Club are seen during the All Ethiopian Sports Association’s first annual soccer tournament, AESAOne 2012, at RFK Stadium. The AESA, which was founded this year, is one of the two major amateur Ethiopian soccer organizations in the United States; the other is the Ethiopian Sports Federation in North America, which has been holding an annual soccer tournament for 29 years. The AESA was formed by defectors from the ESFNA, which is holding its tournament in Dallas, also in the first week of July.

Matt McClain / The Washington Post

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