# Dire Dawa City S.C.

Dire Dawa City Sport Club (Amharic: ድሬዳዋ ከተማ ስፖርት ክለብ), also known as Dire Dawa Kenema, is a professional Ethiopian football club based in Dire Dawa. They play in the top division of Ethiopian football, the Ethiopian Premier League

## History
### Foundation (1982–2003)

Dire Dawa Kenema was originally founded in 1982 (1975 E.C.) until the club went defunct.

### New beginning (2003–present)

The club was reestablished in 2003 (1996 EC) with the hopes of restoring Dire Dawa's historic place in Ethiopian football. The following year (2004–05) the club played in a regional league (then considered the third tier of Ethiopian football). In 2005–06 the club entered the second tier of Ethiopian football called the Ethiopian National League (now called the Ethiopian Higher League). The club entered the Ethiopian Premier League for the first time in 2007–08 season.
Dire Dawa Kenema spent the first few season in the top division battling relegation. The club lost its best player from the 2009–10 season, Ashenafi Girma, to Meta Abo Beer F.C. during the 2010–11 season. Dire Dawa Kenema was relegated from the Premier League after the 2011–12 season.
Dire Dawa Kenema was promoted back to the Ethiopian Premier League after the 2014–15 season and managed to finish 11th in the 2015–16 season avoiding relegation. The club battled relegation in the two seasons since then and avoided relegation each time. The club signed Yosef Dengeto to a contract in March 2018. Former coach of the Ethiopian National team Yohannes Sahle signed on to coach the club on August 3, 2018.
Fisseha Teumelisan was sacked as manager of the club on February 12, 2021. After his firing, Fisseha sued the club saying that he hadn't been paid the amount that was owned to him after the termination of his contract.

## Stadiums

The club plays in home matches at the Dire Dawa Stadium.

## Departments

Dire Dawa Sport Club Academy consists of the U20 team. Players from the U20 team are often picked to fill a few roster spots at the senior level from time to time. Dire Dawa Women's Football Club plays in the first division of the Ethiopian Women's Premier League.

### Active departments

* Boxing Team
* Women's Football team
* Football team (U-20)

## Players
### First-team squad

As of 14 January 2025
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 1 | GK | ETH | Abiyu Kassaye |
| 2 | MF | ETH | Zenebe Kebede |
| 3 | DF | ETH | Mesud Mohammed |
| 4 | DF | ETH | Henok Isaias |
| 5 | DF | ETH | Daniel Demssie |
| 6 | MF | ETH | Awot Gebremikael |
| 6 | DF | ETH | Fikadu Deneke |
| 7 | MF | ETH | Biniam Tesomelisan |
| 8 | MF | ETH | Surafel Getachew |
| 9 | MF | ETH | Henok Gemtessa |
| 10 | MF | ETH | Remeden Nassir |
| 11 | DF | ETH | Asrat Tunjo |
| 12 | DF | GHA | Kweku Andoh |
| 13 | FW | NAM | Itamunua Kemuine |
| 14 | MF | ETH | Yared Zewdneh |
| 15 | DF | ETH | Bereket Samuel |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 16 | MF | ETH | Minyamer Petros |
| 17 | FW | ETH | Aschalew Girma |
| 18 | DF | ETH | Wondwossen Dereje |
| 20 | FW | NAM | Junias Nandjebo |
| 21 | DF | ETH | Frezer Kassa |
| 22 | FW | GHA | Richmond Adongo |
| 25 | GK | ETH | Hamdi Tofik |
| 27 | MF | ETH | Aschenacki Lucas |
| 28 | DF | ETH | Muluken Aydagn |
| 30 | GK | ETH | Firew Getahun |
| 33 | GK | ETH | Mintesinot Yegile |
| 44 | MF | ETH | Mikias Kassahun |
| 77 | FW | ETH | Samuel Zerihun |
| 99 | FW | ETH | Mudin Mussa |
| — | GK | ETH | Wondwossen Ashenafi |

## Club officials

President: Eng. JEMAL IVRAHIM
Vice President: Sultan Ali
General Manager: Fitsum Kinfishe

### Coaching and medical staff

As of 12 March 2021
Team Leader: Tofek Hassien
Manager/Head Coach: Zemariam Woldegiorgis
First assistant coach: Tofek Edris
Second assistant coach: Ephrem Getahun
First-team goalkeeper coach: Abaye Befekadu
Team Doctor: Asrat Legesse

## Former players

* Simon Abay

## Former coaches

* Yohannes Sahle (2018)
* Fisseha Teumelisan (2017–2021) – as assistant & head coach
* Fisseha Teumelisan