Ethiopian Sports Federation in North America

Ato Mesele Kifle was born in Sidamo, Ethiopia in 1951. When he was six years old, his parents sent him to Addis Ababa to receive formal education. He attended Tesfa Kokeb School from kindergarten to eight grades. Ato Mesele attended Leoul Mekonnen High School for two years before his family was moved to Yirga Alem, and joined Ras Desta High school for one additional year. Unlike his primary educational experience, he had to attend one more high school before graduating from Ras Gobena High School in Wolliso. Although attending three high schools seems problematic to some, Ato Mesele remembers his high school days with fondness. One of the many memories of high school for him is his activism. Ato Mesele was one of those conscious students who have had the privileges of seeing many places and Ethiopians traveling with his parents due to job relocations. While he was in high school, he was elected as a student council member and played a major role in the schools activities advocating for land reforms (Merete Le arashu) and others social issues that was concerns for that era.

After completing high school, Ato Mesele started working for Rubber and Canvas (Addis Goma Factory) in Addis Ababa as an Assistant store manager for two years. All along, beginning at a young age, Ato Mesele was a passionate soccer player and fan. After high school, living in the Ledeta area of Addis Ababa he was part of neighborhood teams with the likes of Asrat Haile, Kassahun Teka and Fekadu Muleta?personalities who later became legends in Ethiopian Football lexicon.

Ato Mesele Kifle wasn't of a small talent himself. Before he left Ethiopia, he has played for different clubs including Vaskin, in Addis Abeba, Transportation, in Sidama province and Rubber and Canvas (Addis Goma) in Showa Province First Division.

In 1973, Ato Mesele came to Boston, Massachusetts to seek better education and opportunities for his future. He received his Associate degree from Bunker Hill Community college in 1977, and then went on to receive his Bachelor of Science at the University of Massachusetts in 1979.

Upon his arrival in Boston, he played soccer for the school he attended and also with fellow Ethiopians in the Boston area. Every Sunday, for many years including in the Massachusetts Soccer Association in Boston and its vicinity, he played the game of his passion. In 1976, the Boston Ethiopian Sports Club (BESC) was established. Ato Mesele Kifle was one of the founders and played a prominent role in the creation, organizing, and leadership of the BESC. Ato Mesele has served Boston Ethiopian Sport Club as player, secretary, president, coach, and Board Representative to ESFNA for many years. Besides being one of the founders of ESFNA, Ato Mesele was also the first treasurer elected into ESFNA Executive Committee in 1986 and served for two consecutive terms. Even after he had completed his terms, Ato Mesele has served in ESFNA's sub-committees and has been a valuable mentor and advisor to Executive Committee and Board members alike for the last twenty years.

Ato Mesele is an avid advocate of volunteerism and giving back to the community. His background and focus on community collaboration has led him to a number of volunteer opportunities and in different leadership roles in the Boston Ethiopian community. He's one of those who have sacrificed his talent, time and resources to advance the growth of the Ethiopian Community in North America.

For his exceptional contribution, he has received certificates, plaques and award in numerous times from ESFNA; he is also a recipient of a Life Time Achievement Award from Boston Ethiopian Sport Club in 2011. 

Ato Mesele is happily married to his wife Weizero Turuwork Taddese for thirty years and is blessed with his beloved daughters Tigist and Meron Mesele along with his grand-daughters Gelila and Eden Yakob.