Ex-youth international defender, Matthew Olorunleke has finalised plans to have another expatriate tactician handle a high-profile football coaching course in Lagos midway through the coming month, Sports247 reports.
The forthcoming venture is the latest effort of Ojo-born ‘Leke’ to bring home to Nigeria some of the technical knowledge that has helped him become a successful gaffer at Italian regional league outfit, Bagnolese, which he first featured for as a player in 2001 and later became their head coach in 2012.
Bagnolese gave ‘Leke’ a strong footing to stabilise himself as a key central defender in the tough Italian football scene, where he went on to feature for top clubs like Messina, Regianna, Catanzano and Nocerina, among others.
He also gained an invitation to Nigeria’s under-23 national team at the height of his career, which was set in motion from his early days of playing grassroots football at Cantonment Field in Ojo Military Barracks, from where he got a deal from Barrister Churchill Oliseh at FC Ebedie and then onwards to Italy.
‘Leke,’ who has since made it a tradition to annually bring ideas and technical values back home, in appreciation of the roots that produced him, is now extending his impact in conjunction with Lagos State Football Association (LSFA) and its affiliated coaches’ body.
A statement from the organisers revealed, “Abigol Football Management and Coaching in conjunction with Lagos State FA Coaching Association presents Lagos Football Coaching Workshop 2026.
“The workshop focuses on technical and tactical periodization training designed to equip coaches with modern European coaching methodologies and global best practices.
“Hosted by Mathew Olorunleke, a European licence coach, with top resource persons – including Roberto Bassi (European Licence Coach), Dr. Issah Ladan Bosso, Nduka Ugbade, Hajji Gafar Liameed and Dosu John – Date: 16th – 21st November, 2026; Venue: Lagos State NIS; Time 10am.”
Sports247 reports further that Olorunleke described the forthcoming course as a ‘must-attend for coaches seeking international certification and elite coaching knowledge,’ with expectations of many benefits to be accrued from it.
