Borkena
Toronto – The Ethiopian Cultural and Sports League of Canada (ECSLC) has now been officially established.
In addition to organizing annual soccer tournaments and cultural festivals, the organization aims to ensure that the new generation of Ethiopians in Canada can preserve their identity, culture, and values, as reported last week.
Who are the individuals committed to this mission? Borkena reached out to the organization to obtain brief biographies of its founding members and contributors.
Abel Getachew Bogale
Abel ,board member, brings a combination of leadership, athletic experience, and community engagement to the Ethiopian Cultural and Sports League of Canada.
He holds a Master of Public and International Affairs from York University and a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from Bluefield University.
Abel has an extensive soccer background spanning collegiate, semi-professional, and community-level competition across North America. He played four years of NAIA Division I soccer at Bluefield University and later spent two seasons with Outremont Mont-Royal at the semi-professional level.
He also competed in the ESFNA Division One league for eight years, representing New York Abay FC for four years and Virginia Lions for four years. Throughout his playing career, he participated in high-level tournaments and championship campaigns, developing strong leadership skills, tactical awareness, and a team-first approach to the game.
Beyond his accomplishments on the field, Abel has played an active role in soccer administration and community sports development. He currently serves as President of Ethio Walia Football Club and is the founder of the Ethiopian Cultural and Sports League of Canada.
His experience includes soccer governance, strategic planning, player recruitment, roster development, and club operations. He works closely with coaches, players, volunteers, sponsors, and community partners to support the growth of the sport and strengthen community engagement through athletics.
Abel is passionate about building sustainable soccer programs and creating opportunities that bring communities together through sports and cultural activities.
Denekew Aschnaki
Also known as Denny, Denekew Aschnaki was born in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. He began playing soccer at a young age with the Taddesse youth team (“የታደሰ ልጅ”) and continued playing through school, community leagues, and teams in Canada.
He has more than 10 years of experience coaching and mentoring youth players, including over five years with Kitchener Soccer Club. His work focuses on youth development, teamwork, confidence, and discipline.
Professionally, he is a licensed Amharic interpreter in Ontario, as well as a Social Worker and Child Protection Worker. He has also served in several community leadership roles, including as Chairperson of the Ethiopian Association in Kitchener for four years. During that time, he supported youth travel initiatives for ESFNA tournaments.
He currently serves as a Board Member of the Ethiopian Soccer Federation in Canada and remains committed to youth mentorship, cultural preservation, and community growth.
Duresa Shibisa
Founder & Board Member
Ethiopian Cultural and Sports League of Canada (ECSLC)
Born in 2003 in Ethiopia, Duresa Shibisa is a professional soccer player and active community leader within the Ethiopian soccer community in Canada.
He is a founding member of the Ethiopian Football Federation in Canada and continues working to strengthen the soccer community while supporting youth development and preserving Ethiopian culture and heritage.
Duresa began playing soccer at a young age and progressed through all levels of Ethiopia’s national soccer system. He represented Ethiopian youth national teams, the Ethiopian Olympic team, and the senior national team. He also competed in the CAF Confederation Cup with Bahir Dar FC.
Throughout his career, he has played for Sebeta City FC, Adama City FC, and currently plays for Boro FC.
He is also the Founder and President of Abyssinia FC in Canada. His work is focused on expanding soccer opportunities for youth in both Canada and Ethiopia. He is passionate about mentorship, leadership, and inspiring the next generation through sports and community involvement.
Ephrem Wondwossen Gebremaryam
Playing Career
Ephrem Wondwossen Gebremaryam played professionally for 16 years (2002–2018) with 10 different Ethiopian Premier League clubs. He also represented the Ethiopia National Team from youth level to the senior team between 2002 and 2016.
Leadership & Football Administration
In 2018, he founded the Ethiopian Professional Footballers Association and served as Secretary General from 2018 to 2023. Since 2023, he has served as President of the association.
Coaching Qualifications
His coaching qualifications include:
- FC Bayern Level Junior Coach (2019)
- FC Bayern Level Pro Coach (2020)
- T.M.S College Diploma in Football Coaching (2023)
- CAF B Diploma Football Coach (2025)
Hailu Semegne Ayalew
Founder & Board Member
Hailu Semegne Ayalew was born and raised in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. He earned both Bachelor’s and Master of Science degrees from Addis Ababa University.
He worked as a researcher at Addis Ababa University with the Horn of Africa Regional Environment Centre and Network, contributing to environmental research and regional development initiatives.
After moving to Canada, he continued his studies at Humber College and Toronto Metropolitan University. He is currently pursuing an LLB (Bachelor of Laws) through the University of London.
Professionally, he works in the legal field with a focus on criminal and regulatory matters. His interests include litigation, advocacy, and community leadership.
Hailu has also remained active in volunteer work supporting youth engagement and community development. In sports, he formerly played for Ethio Star FC in Canada and has long been involved with the Tesfa Soccer Team. He is also a founding member and board member of Ethio Walia FC.
He currently serves as a Founder and Board Member of the Ethiopian Cultural and Sports League of Canada (ECSLC), where he is committed to using sports and culture to strengthen community connections and support youth development.
Hilawi Antonio George
Founder & Board Member – Ethiopian Cultural and Sports League of Canada
Hlawi Antonio George is a former professional soccer player with more than 15 years of experience in Ethiopia’s National League and Premier League.
During his career, he played for Ethiopian Coffee, Sebeta Kenema, Metehara, Trans Ethiopia, Nyala, and Ethiopian Water Works FC. He was also a two-time Ethiopian National League Player of the Year and won league championships with multiple clubs.
After moving to Canada, he continued his involvement in the soccer community through Abebe Bikila Sport Club and Ethio Walia.
His current focus is on youth development, unity, cultural preservation, and community engagement through soccer. He continues to serve as an active Founder and Board Member of ECSLC.
Maseresha Zewede
Maseresha Zewede is a longtime community sports leader and former football player with experience in Ethiopia, Germany, the United States, and Canada. Born and raised in the Keira area of Addis Ababa, he developed his football skills through local community and Kebele tournaments before moving on to play competitive club football with Kality Metal Football Club in Ethiopia.
He later continued his football journey in Germany, where he played for four years with Tutu Wermelskirchen Sport Club. The experience gave him exposure to organized European football systems and strengthened his understanding of discipline and teamwork in sports.
After relocating to the United States, Maseresha joined St. Michael, one of the well-known Ethiopian community football teams. He also served as Team Captain, taking leadership responsibilities both on and off the field while helping promote unity and teamwork within the community.
In Canada, he became one of the co-founders of Walia Football Club and served as Treasurer during the club’s early years, contributing to its organization and growth.
Maseresha Zewede is also the co-founder and Chairperson of the Ethiopian Cultural Sports League of Canada (ECSLC). Through the organization, he continues to support efforts aimed at promoting Ethiopian culture, sports, and community engagement across Canada.
Teklemichael Abebe Sahlemariam
Teklemichael Abebe Sahlemariam, who also has been practicing law serving the Ethiopian and Eritrean community and beyond for over 14 years, was one of the key founding contributors during the early development of the Federation.
He provided significant financial support and personal resources that helped establish the organization and supported its initial operations. He also played an important role in connecting individuals, ideas, and community partners during the organization’s formation.
He continues to support the Federation’s growth and stability through ongoing involvement, guidance, and experience rooted in a long-standing commitment to community development.
Although he is not part of the governance or board decision-making structure, he remains an important contributor to the organization’s progress and mission.
Editor’s note : Interested in featuring your Ethiopian Community on Borkena? From Europe, North America or elsewhere, Please send submissions to info@borkena.com
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