Born in Tigray Province, he had his first experience of international competition at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships. A second place in the national championships (behind Tessema Abshiro) meant he was selected for the junior race at the 2003 IAAF World Cross Country Championships in Lausanne, and he finished in ninth position. In 2004, he ran at the Great Ethiopian Run, finishing eighth in the 10 km race, and came second in the 10,000 metres at the Addis Ababa municipal championships.