Meet Our team
The People Behind MEKA
MEKA is shaped by two individuals who bring a shared passion for football and a commitment to creating a meaningful environment for young players. Together, they combine experience, teaching and care to support every child’s development on and off the pitch.
Head of Football
Erick Anabalon
Football Background
Erick has lived and breathed football from a young age, surrounded by a family deeply involved in the sport. His journey through youth, senior and futsal pathways has shaped a broad understanding of how the game works and what young players need at each stage of development.
Coaching Approach
Erick coaches with patience, clarity and intention. He focuses on helping players understand the game, not just perform drills. Children respond well to his calm style, feeling comfortable to ask questions, try new things and learn at their own pace.
What Erick Brings to MEKA
Erick sets the football direction for MEKA, shaping the structure of sessions and the long-term development pathway. He is thoughtful, observant and committed to building confident young footballers who enjoy learning and growing each week.
HEAD OF Operations / coach
Keith Azzopardi
Football Background
Keith’s football journey began in Malta, continued through Scotland and settled in Australia, where he has played, coached and supported community football for many years. His involvement in futsal and local clubs has deepened his understanding of how players learn and what families value.
Coaching & Teaching Strengths
With a professional background in education, training and community-focused work, Keith brings strong communication and teaching skills to MEKA. He has a natural ability to break down concepts, support young players and help families feel informed and connected to the program.
What Keith Brings to MEKA
Keith oversees the operational side of the academy and supports coaching with a people-centred, detail-oriented approach. He ensures MEKA delivers sessions that are organised, purposeful and aligned with the academy’s values.
Football COACH
Josh Mesiti
Football Background
Josh has lived and breathed football since a young age. He spent the majority of his playing career at NPL1 level, sharing the pitch with the likes of Mitch Duke and Aaron Mooy.
Coaching Approach
Josh is patient with our young players and reads the game at a highly technical level. He works closely with players on positioning and game understanding, and helps them steadily build their technical skills session by session.
What Josh Brings to MEKA
Josh brings genuine passion and drive to everything he does on the field. He's committed and determined, always showing up fully switched on, and that consistency helps raise the bar for what young players can expect from a MEKA session. He takes real pride in seeing the next group of talent come through and develop.
Erick and Keith
Together at MEKA
Erick and Keith bring different strengths, but their focus is the same, creating a football environment where children feel supported, encouraged and excited to grow. Their combined experience shapes MEKA’s identity and ensures every player receives care, clarity and meaningful development.
Parent Feedback
What Families Are Saying
Fantastic Experience at MEKA Football
We’ve had such a fantastic experience with MEKA. Since joining, both of my sons have improved immensely, not just in their technical skills, but also in their overall confidence on and off the field. They really look forward to their sessions each week; the enthusiasm they have for training really speaks volumes about the environment that has been created.
The training is incredibly well structured, with a strong focus on skill development and game awareness. What stands out most is how clearly the drills and exercises translate into their club soccer games. We’ve noticed a real difference in their decision-making, positioning, and overall performance during matches.
A special thank you to Keith for his ongoing support and encouragement. His positive approach and genuine investment in the kids’ development make such a difference. We are so grateful to be part of the MEKA community and couldn’t recommend the academy more highly - Jess Newman
My Sons Favourite Night of the Week
My son has been at MEKA Football Academy from day 1 and we couldn’t not be happier with the program!
Keith and Erick truly want to help all the kids improve their soccer skills while at the same time providing a fun, friendly environment for all the kids (and parents).
It’s easy to sign up, great communication and two of the most genuine coaches you will find! My sons favourite night of the week is Wednesday Night training at MEKA! Thank you team! - Steve Beluga
Our experience with MEKA has been fantastic.
The coaches Keith and Erick are patient, encouraging, and truly understand how to work with young kids.
They focus not just on skills, but also on teamwork, confidence, and having fun, which makes a huge difference at this age. The training sessions are also well-organised. - Antonio Brancato
As a Coach & Parent: MEKA is a Great Place for Young Players to Grow
As both a coach and a parent, I’ve had the privilege of seeing firsthand the incredible impact MEKA Football Academy has on young players and I can’t speak highly enough of the environment they’ve created. From a coaching perspective, the structure, attention to detail, and genuine focus on player development are outstanding.
Every session is purposeful, well-organised, and designed to challenge players at the right level while still keeping the love of the game front and centre. It’s clear the coaches are not only knowledgeable, but also deeply invested in each child’s growth, both technically and mentally. As a parent, it’s even more rewarding to watch my own son thrive in this environment.
His confidence, skill level, and understanding of the game have improved since joining. More importantly, he genuinely looks forward to every session—something that speaks volumes about the positive culture MEKA has built. What really sets MEKA apart is the balance they strike between high standards and genuine care for the players. They develop not just better footballers, but well-rounded, disciplined, and motivated young people. I would wholeheartedly recommend MEKA Football Academy to any family looking for a professional, supportive, and inspiring place for their child to grow in the game. - Michael Abas
MEKA Football helped build our son's confidence
I want to share how impressed I’ve been with the coaching approach at this academy, particularly with the younger age groups. It’s clear that a lot of thought and care goes into how the coaches communicate with the 6 and 7 year old players. The language used is consistently age-appropriate, positive and easy for the kids to understand. Instructions are given in a way that keeps them engaged without overwhelming them, and there’s a great balance between encouragement and gentle correction. This helped build our son’s confidence while still allowing him to learn and improve and he has.
We noticed such growth from him on the field and the way he talks about football skills off the field and he’s always excited to attend trainings.
The coaches are patient, attentive and genuinely invested in making sure every player feels included and capable. This showed us the level of support each child receives. It also created a safe and fun environment where the kids are not only developing their soccer skills but also enjoying the game and building self-belief.
It’s clear that the academy prioritises both development and well-being, which is exactly what young players need at this stage and we couldn’t be more pleased with this. Keep up the fantastic work! - Jorjina
A Coach Who Truly Cares
My son has trained with Erick for three years and the improvement has been remarkable. Erick is more than a coach, he’s a mentor. His ability to develop both technical skills and real confidence sets him apart. My son's ball control, positioning, and game awareness are on another level, and most importantly, he believes in himself now. Couldn’t recommend Erick more - T. Cavasinni
Professional, Positive Coaching
Erick played a key role in preparing my two sons for the transition from community football into NPL youth football. Over two seasons, he created a unique coaching environment built on passion, care, and a genuine love for the game.
He has a strong ability to teach game-realistic drills and football intelligence, while also showing how the lessons of football apply to life. Erick helped my sons build confidence, express themselves, and strive to be the best they can be on and off the field - John Pierobon
Positive introduction to the sport
We’ve had such a positive experience with this soccer academy. When my 7-year-old son first started, he was quite shy and hesitant on the field. Since joining, we’ve seen a huge change in his confidence. He now actively goes for the ball, gets involved in play, and genuinely looks forward to every training session.
What really stands out is the supportive and encouraging environment created by the coaches. They’ve done an amazing job helping him come out of his shell while still making training fun and engaging. He also loves being part of the team, which has helped him build friendships and feel more comfortable overall.
It’s been wonderful to watch his growth, not just in his soccer skills but in his confidence as well. Highly recommend this academy to any parents looking for a positive introduction to the sport - Emma Barrera
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Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to Common Questions About MEKA
1. What ages can join MEKA Football Academy?
We welcome players aged 6 to 12. Our programs are designed around age-appropriate development phases so children learn at the right pace for their stage.
2. What should my child bring to training?
Players need football boots, shin pads, a water bottle and comfortable sportswear. Once enrolled, MEKA training kits will be provided for training sessions.
3. How do I enrol my child?
You can enrol directly through our website. Submit your details on the Expression of interest page, and we will be in touch to confirm availability, session details and the next steps.
4. Where does MEKA run training sessions?
Training is held at Doohan Reserve, Oran Park, on the bottom fields closest to the tennis courts. This applies across all current terms. Exact field setup details are confirmed with enrolled families before each term begins.
5. What can my child expect at a MEKA training session?
Sessions are well planned, structured and purpose-driven. Players learn technique, movement, decision-making and mindset through enjoyable activities and small-sided games.
6. Do parents receive updates about their child’s progress?
Yes. We maintain open communication with families so you understand what your child is learning and how they are developing over time. Parents are welcome to connect and request feedback.
7. How do I enrol in a program or holiday clinic?
Submit your details using the BOOK A FREE TRIAL or ENROL TODAY buttons found in the top sections of each of the website pages, and our team will guide you through the next steps for the relevant program.
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