Defence Force Sport Club (Amharic: መከላከያ "Mekelakeya") is an Ethiopian football club based in the city of Addis Ababa.[1] They play in the Betking Ethiopian Premier League, the first division of professional football in Ethiopia.[1] The team, formerly named Army SC and Mechal SC, is the second most decorated club in Ethiopian football history behind Saint George.[2]
 | |||
| Full name | Defence Force Sport Club | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | TORU | ||
| Founded | 1938 (1931 E.C.) | ||
| Ground | Addis Ababa Stadium | ||
| Capacity | 35,000 | ||
| Chairman | Ato Emanuel Fentahun | ||
| Manager | Yohannes Sahle | ||
| League | Ethiopian Premier League | ||
| 2020–21 | Higher League 2nd of 9 (Group A) | ||
| Website | Club website | ||
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. 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.[3]
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.[4] 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.[5] In April 2021, the club was promoted back into the Ethiopian Premier League after a successful campaign in the second division.
Crest
logo
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Stadium
The club plays its home matches at Addis Ababa Stadium.
Departments
Active departments
- Women's Football Team
- Football Team (U17)[6]
- Football Team (U20)
Honors
Domestic
- 1949, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1956, 1976, 1982, 1984, 1988, 1989
- Ethiopian Cup: 14
- 1946, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1975, 1982, 1990, 2006, 2013, 2015, 2018
African
- African Cup of Champions Clubs: 1 appearance
- 1977 – First Round
- CAF Confederation Cup: 2 appearances
- CAF Cup Winners' Cup: 1 appearance
- 1976 – Quarter-finals
Players
First-team 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| — | MF |  ETH | Solomon Melkie |
| 15 | MF | ETH | Tewodros Tafesse |
| — | 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 |
| — | FW |  GHA | Ernest Barfo |
| — | MF | ETH | Samuel Saliso |
| — | ETH | Dawit Mamo |
Former managers
Former players
References
External links
- Team profile – ethiofootball.com
- Team profile – soccerway.com