Italy-based former defender, Matthew Olorunleke (aka Leke) has disclosed that he has spent more time back home in Nigeria of recent because he wants to discover new football stars for the country.
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Olorunleke, who now runs a youth development venture known as Abigol Football Management And Coaching, stressed that he is in search of Nigeria’s next generation talents who will make a bigger impact than he did.
The 40-year-old dark-skinned coach-cum-scout added in an exclusive interview with sports247.ng that he decided not to be tied down to any club for now because he wants to concentrate on grooming future stars through his scouting ventures.
“I am currently not tied to any club, because I am fully involved with my Nigerian project. Taking up a coaching contract will disturb my job with the company.
“My primary goal is to get someone better than those of us in my set of Nigerian players. I want to unearth the next generation of Nigerian players, the same way Churchill Oliseh discovered me.”
He then gave kudos to the chairman of Lagos State Football Association (LSFA), Hajji Gafar Olawale Liameed for supporting his recent youth development and talent hunt efforts in Nigeria’s commercial capital.
Olorunleke, who grew up in the Ojo area of Lagos and went on to play for nine different clubs in Italy, equally thanked the chairman of Badagry Football Association (BDFA), Dr Osondu Martins for putting his weight behind a well attended coaching seminar this past Tuesday in Lagos.
The former player and later head coach of Italian lower division side, Bagnolese, stated, “I stayed back longer in Lagos this time because of the coaching clinic organised by Badagry Football Association.
“I give kudos to Hajji Gafar and Dr Osondu for how they keyed into my idea. It’s not an easy task, but they made out time for it, and they improved on something that I had earlier done.
“It was their own idea, and they invited me to add my voice to the talk. From this seminar, we all agreed that Nigeria is still growing in football.
“Football is now more than just playing the game. It is business, and its success has to do with adequate planning.”
‘Leke’ concluded with a declaration that he could decide to take up a coaching job in Nigeria if he is recognised by anyone deeming it fit to approach him for his services as a full time tactician in future.
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