Leadership
Abdi Hersi (President)
Abdi started his soccer career with the EELPA Sports Club in 1985 and continued playing for the Club for two years before transferring to the Insurance Sports Club in 1998 where he played until 1994. Abdi also represented his country both for the senior and U-21 teams. After moving to the United States of America in 1995, Abdi enrolled at Alabama A&M University where he played for the varsity team from 1995 – 1998. Abdi has been a member of the Ethiopian Sports Federation in North America since 1995.
Abdi completed his Master’s degree in Information System at Alabama A&M in 2002 and now works and resides in Las Vegas, Nevada with his wife and daughter.
Mengistu Hussien (Vice President)
Mengistu Husane stared playing soccer at a young age in his neighborhood and moved on to play professionally in the Ethiopian Soccer league with “Ershasubel” (Agricultural Marketing Corporation) from 1984 – 1995. At Ershasebel, Mengistu was captain of the Club. From 1985 – 1986, he played for the Ethiopian National Youth Team, earning a selection to the senior squad in 1986. Mengistu was one of the star players who won the East and Central African Championship in 1986 with the Ethiopian National Team. He was capped 36 times for the Ethiopian National Team.
In 1995, he moved to the United States of America, where he has been very active in participating in the Ethiopian Sports Federation in North America’s annual tournament for several years. From 1995 – 1999 he played for the LA Dallol Soccer Club and moved on to play with the cross-town rivals Ethio-LA Stars Soccer Club from 2000 – 2005, where he also was the Head Coach of the team. Under his tenure, he has firmly established the Ethio-LA Stars as one of the premier teams participating in the Ethiopian Sports Federation in North America annual tournament, leading the team to back-to-back championships in 2006 and 2007.
Tadese Gebryes (Secretary)
Tadese started his professional career with the famous St. George Football Club in 1984, where played as a goalkeeper until 1996. After retiring from St. George, he led the Demera Sports Club as a Head Coach from 1997 – 2000. In 2000, Tadese moved to Summit Sports Club as an Assistant Coach until 2002.
He now resides in Denver Colorado with his wife and two children.
Kassaye Woldemariam (Treasurer)
Tsegaye Zenebe (Finance Committee Chairman)
Mahedere Gebre Selassie (Public Relations)
Maheder, affectionately called by her friends as (Mahadie) was born in Addis Ababa in an area called DED MASCHA Kebele 32 Kikos Wereda, attended her elementary and high school.
At an early age she had a passion for sports and started participated in organized sports at school level and extended to a club (St.George), as a handball player until she departed from homeland to Kenya and made her way to the US. She is one sports fanatic, especially soccer which is her ultimate passion in this case nothing can get on her way or stop her from any soccer match be it professional or amateur she will be there, that is how much she is committed.
Mahadie has been a fixture in the past 20 years as an avid supporter of the ESFINA wherever the venue was held as a spectator and a contributor to the festivities in many ways to enhance the games, she is also one mean cook who got everyone hooked up to her cooking to the players and the public at large at the these venues. For her this ritual as I refer to it her (KULIBIY) and she look forward to it every year.
Maheder’s commitment to the success of ESFINA extends beyond here and is involved with a Group of former Players who are concerned about their former comrade’s well being; this is another way of her commitment in helping Players who had fallen in hard times due to disability or other reasons.
Kiflu Mebratu (Internal Auditor)
Kiflu Mebratu played for the Ethiopian National Team from 1982 – 1985. His professional tenure at the club level includes Chenet Mamelalesha Derejet (CHIMAD) 1978 – 1979; Agro 1980 – 1983; and EELPA 1983 – 1985. After moving to the United States of America, he has been playing for the Atlanta Ethiopian FC since 1994.
Aboneh Mamo (Board Member)
Aboneh Mamo was born and raised in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, near the famous neighborhood of “Quas Meda”, which has produced quiet a few top soccer players. Nurturing his dream of one day playing for the Ethiopian National Team and becoming at top flight player, he rigorously honed his physical and football skills to enable him to achieve his dreams of representing his country at the highest level.
At an early ago of 18, he started playing for the “Berari Kokeb” Club, one of the well-known clubs during his era, as a forward wearing his favorite jersey #7. Aboneh credits his Club, Berari Kokeb, in nurturing his growth and maturity as a person and player. It did not take him long to earn his place as a starter under the Club’s tutelage and system.
Aboneh was selected numerous times not only for the State Select Team, but also for the U-21 and senior teams at the national level. He was capped … During the Derg era, the entire structure of the Ethiopian Football Federation was changed, and so did his team. He joined the “Tigil Fre” Club in 1979. During his tenure at “Tigel Fre” Club, his team were crowned national league champions in 1980 before he migrated to the United States of America in 1981.
Aboneh resides in Atlanta, Georgia with his two beautiful kids, Noah Aboneh (age 15) and Kalkidan Aboneh (age 13). And yes, he still has his game on, if you dare join him on the pitch!
Dawit Getachew (Board Member)
Dawit initially participated in the Ethiopian Sports Federation in North America Tournament with the Boston Ethiopian Soccer Team from 1988 – 1990. After moving to Atlanta in 1991, he joined the Atlanta Ethiopian FC for a year before finishing up his playing days with the Los Angeles (LA Stars) Ethiopian Soccer Team from 1992 – 1994.
Mesfin Gebregiorgis (Board Member)
Mesfin Gebregiorgis, affectionately knows as “Chanka”, by his fans and friends, played for the Awasa, Dukem, Agro Industry, Police, and Ethiopian Airlines clubs as a professional. He also represented the Ethiopian National Team at the Youth level. Currently, Mesfin plays for the San Francisco Walia Soccer Club which took 2nd place in the Chicago 2009 Tournament hosted by the Ethiopian Sports Federation in North America.
Nardos Seleshi (Board Member)
Nardos’ dribbling wizardry has earned him a lot of admirers during his participation in the Ethiopian Sports Federation in North America annual tournament in the past several years with the Denver Tana Sports Club, currently as a Head Coach. He started his professional career in soccer with the Cement Sports Club and moved on for two years the Public Transportation Sports Club before moving to the United States of America.
Dawit Agonafer (Board Member)
There is a long standing debate about Dawit’s incredible speed – that he could have beat Usain Bolt in the 100 and 200M dash. His speed was just phenomenal during his tenure as a player with his college team and Denver Tana Sports Club. He single handedly beat teams, playing a similar style as Franz Beckenbauer, covering the entire soccer field from one end to the other. After retiring from active play in soccer, Dawit served as the President of the Ethiopian Sports Federation in North America from 2002 to 2008, successfully managing the growth and strategic direction of the organization.
Dawit was born in the neighborhood of “Jan Meda” and honed his skills on the famous fields where many Ethiopian footballers started their careers. He moved to the United States at the age of 17 where he had a full scholarship at the University of Denver. He made the Regional All-Star team in each of his four years and also served as an Assistant Coach while he was a graduate student.
After graduation, Dawit continued playing for the Denver Kickers for ten years and won the National Amateur Cup two times. He is one of the founding members of the Denver Tana FC, and has several years of experience coaching youth soccer.
Dawit works and resides in Denver, Colorado with his wife and two children.
