The article discusses the financial struggles of two of Ethiopia's largest football clubs, St. George and Ethiopia Bunna FC, as the 2023/24 Ethiopian Premier League season begins. Despite football's potential for self-sustainability through various revenue streams, these clubs face existential threats due to financial challenges. The article explores the history of the clubs, their past successes, and the current financial landscape, including the impact of COVID-19 on revenues and the rising costs of player transfers and salaries. It also details the sponsorship deals the clubs have secured to mitigate financial issues and the broader problems of financial mismanagement and lack of transparency within Ethiopian football. The article suggests that solutions such as fan ownership, better financial management, and youth development investments are necessary for the survival of these clubs. The Ethiopian Football Federation's role in providing support and the need for government intervention are also discussed as ways to improve the financial health of the football clubs.