Defence Force S.C.

Defence Force Sport Club (Amharic: መከላከያ "Mekelakeya") is an Ethiopian football club based in the city of Addis Ababa. They play in the Ethiopian Premier League, the top level of professional football in Ethiopia. . The team was formerly named Army SC and Mechal SC.

Defence S.C.
Full nameDefence Force Sport Club
Nickname(s)TORU
Founded1938
GroundAddis Ababa Stadium
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Capacity35,000
ChairmanAto Emanuel Fentahun
ManagerSeyoum Kebede
LeagueEthiopian Premier League
2017/1812th

History

Mekelakeya is historically the second most successful club in Ethiopian football history with 11 top division titles, with the most recent coming in 1989. Their dominance in the early years of Ethiopian football was cemented with six titles in the span of eight years from 1949 to 1956. After relative dormancy in the 1960s and 1970s, the club returned to its dominant ways in the 1980s by winning four titles. The club also has enjoyed success in the Ethiopian Cup, winning it 13 times.

Premier League

On April 30, 2018 the club was involved in a match where they were awarded a goal that their opponents, Welwalo Adigrat University, disputed. An altercation followed that ultimately led to a member of the Welwalo coaching staff physically attacking the referee.[1]

Domestic Cup competition

Defense beat Hawassa City 2–0 to win the 2015 Ethiopian Cup for a record 13th time and for the second time in three years.[2]

CAF competition

Defense entered the 2017 CAF Confederation Cup as the runners-up in the 2016 Ethiopian Cup. They were knocked out of the tournament by Cameroonian side Yong Sports Academy 2–1 on aggregate in the preliminary round.[3]

Grounds

Addis Ababa Stadium, which has a capacity of 35,000, is their home.

Former Managers
  • Geberemedhin Haile

Honours
1949, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1956, 1976, 1982, 1984, 1988, 1989
1946, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1975, 1982, 1990, 2006, 2013, 2015, 2018

Performance in CAF competitions
1977 – First Round
2007 – First Round
2017 – Preliminary Round
1976 – Quarter-finals

Current squad

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK  ETH Abel Mamo
— GK  ETH Tariku Aredo
13 DF  ETH Abebe Tilahun
16 DF  ETH Adisu Tesfaye
3 DF  ETH Alemneh Girma
10 DF  ETH Mintesnot Kebede
2 DF  ETH Shemeles Tegegn
5 DF  ETH Tafese Serka
0 MF  ETH Amanuel Teshome
25 MF  ETH Behaylu Girma
17 MF  ETH Firew Solomon
19 MF  ETH Samuel Taye(captain)
No. Pos. Nation Player
— MF  ETH Solomon Melkie
15 MF  ETH Tedros Tafese
— MF  ETH Werkneh Dawit
24 FW  ETH Eklesyas Girma
23 FW  ETH Fikadu Alemu
27 FW  ETH Fitsum Gebremariam
— FW  ETH Minyilu Wondimu
9 FW  ETH Temesgen Gebrekidan
— DF  ETH Semere Aregaw
— DF  ETH Abnet Yigletu
— GK  ETH Yidnekachew Kidane Beyene
— DF  ETH Muluken Desalegn Degu

References
  1. "Referee attacked by Ethiopian footballers for goal decision". BBC. May 1, 2018.
  2. Okinyo, Collins (September 27, 2015). "Defense(Mekelakeya) lift Ethiopia Football Federation Cup for a record 13th time". soka25east.
  3. Chuma, Festus (February 20, 2017). "2017 CAF Confederations Cup preliminary round summary". soka25east.


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