Dreamland Football Academy is run by a private limited company with the name of Dreamland Football Sport Club Plc. The general manager of the company is Mr. Zewge Tesfaye.
Dreamland Football Academy’s coaching staff consists of Mengistu Arega and Alemayehu Mekuria who train and coach the Under 17 group. The Under 13’s category is coached by Jacob Barrett and Mattias Kebede. All members of the coaching team have substantial experience in coaching and training football players.
COACHES
MENGISTU AREGA
Mr. Arega (known as “Menge” in DFA community) is one of the Coaches in DFA responsible for coaching the U-17 DFA trainees. Menge has a B.SC in Sports Science from the Addis Ababa University and a CAF Coaching “C” License and on his way to qualify for a “B” license. Menge has taken a number of trainings organized under the auspices of CAF and the Ethiopian Football Federation.
Menge has substantial experience in coaching youth teams under the youth development program organized by the Addis Ababa City Administration, in particular with Lideta and Kirkos sub-cities. Some of Menge’s trainees have gone on to play for major professional teams competing in the Ethiopian Premier League and selected for the Ethiopian national team.
Menge has substantial experience in coaching youth teams under the youth development program organized by the Addis Ababa City Administration, in particular with Lideta and Kirkos sub-cities. Some of Menge’s trainees have gone on to play for major professional teams competing in the Ethiopian Premier League and selected for the Ethiopian national team.
JACOB BARRETT
Mr. Jacob Barrett is an English FA qualified coach with over fifteen years of coaching experience at youth level. Jacob’s love for football started at the age of nine when he joined a football academy in London that was sponsored by English Premier League clubs Crystal Palace F.C and Fulham F.C.
Jacob, who migrated to Ethiopia from the United Kingdom in 2006, has established and coached primary and high school football teams in three schools across Addis Ababa, and is one the founding members of Dreamland Football Academy alongside Zewge Tesfaye, Mesfin Tafesse and Mengistu Arega.
Jacob, who migrated to Ethiopia from the United Kingdom in 2006, has established and coached primary and high school football teams in three schools across Addis Ababa, and is one the founding members of Dreamland Football Academy alongside Zewge Tesfaye, Mesfin Tafesse and Mengistu Arega.
ALEMAYEHU MEKURIA
Mr. Alemayehu (known as Alemye/Alex in DFA community) is one of the coaches in DFA responsible for coaching the U-17 DFA trainees. Alex has a CAF Coaching “B” License and has also completed the National Coaching Leadership & Training Certificate Program sponsored by the Ethiopian Football Federation.
Alex has a long career of coaching youth teams in Lideta sub-city of the Addis Ababa City Administration. He also coached the Legedadi City Women’s Football Club in the Oromia Regional State and led to win the title of the Oromiya Region Women’s League in 2015. In 2016, he coached the men’s team of Oromiya Region Legadadi City and helped them qualify as one of the eight out of 32 clubs, playing in the first league.
Alex has a long career of coaching youth teams in Lideta sub-city of the Addis Ababa City Administration. He also coached the Legedadi City Women’s Football Club in the Oromia Regional State and led to win the title of the Oromiya Region Women’s League in 2015. In 2016, he coached the men’s team of Oromiya Region Legadadi City and helped them qualify as one of the eight out of 32 clubs, playing in the first league.
MATIWOS KEBEDE
Matiwos Kebede has vast experience in coaching young children. He holds CAF Coaching B License since 2013. He has also taken a number of professional training courses administered by the Ethiopian Football Federation, the Ethiopian-German Long-Term Football Project, Athletes in Action International, Deutscher Olympischer Sport Bund, the British Council and others. Those courses focused on various areas including but not limited to football theory and practice, compact defending and attacking, pressing, tactical position training, and talent spotting.
Matiwos has participated as a coach in numerous series of summary youth competition programs sponsored by the Addis Ababa City Administration. He was the head coach of the Bole Gerji Union Sport Club for three years. He also coached St. Kirkos Football Club as head and deputy coach for two years (2016-2017). Matiwos has been recognized as a key contributor of the football tournaments of the 38th SECAFA, the 4th CHAN, the Ethiopian Premier League U17 competitions and has received certificates of recognition for his contributions from various government and non-governmental agencies.
Matiwos has participated as a coach in numerous series of summary youth competition programs sponsored by the Addis Ababa City Administration. He was the head coach of the Bole Gerji Union Sport Club for three years. He also coached St. Kirkos Football Club as head and deputy coach for two years (2016-2017). Matiwos has been recognized as a key contributor of the football tournaments of the 38th SECAFA, the 4th CHAN, the Ethiopian Premier League U17 competitions and has received certificates of recognition for his contributions from various government and non-governmental agencies.
MANAGEMENT
Mesfin Tafesse
Mr. Mesfin Tafesse is one of the founders of DFA. Mesfin is a lawyer by profession and has always been attached to football since childhood. Mesfin’s two sons train and play in DFA. As a parent and a majority shareholder of DFA, Mesfin has demonstrated strong commitment in financing the early activities of DFA, availing his time to continuously support the strengthening and development of DFA.
Zewge Tesfaye
Mr. Zewge Tesfaye is the general manager of DFA, running day to day operations and implementing decisions made by shareholders. Zewge has played a lead role in navigating DFA from inception to its current status. He is a pharmacist by profession and has stayed close to football for several years. Mr. Zewge also has a son who trains and plays in DFA.
JACOB BARRETT
Mr. Jacob Barrett is an English FA qualified coach with over fifteen years of coaching experience at youth level. Jacob’s love for football started at the age of nine when he joined a football academy in London that was sponsored by English Premier League clubs Crystal Palace F.C and Fulham F.C.
Jacob, who migrated to Ethiopia from the United Kingdom in 2006, has established and coached primary and high school football teams in three schools across Addis Ababa, and is one the founding members of Dreamland Football Academy alongside Zewge Tesfaye, Mesfin Tafesse and Mengistu Arega.
Jacob, who migrated to Ethiopia from the United Kingdom in 2006, has established and coached primary and high school football teams in three schools across Addis Ababa, and is one the founding members of Dreamland Football Academy alongside Zewge Tesfaye, Mesfin Tafesse and Mengistu Arega.
