Top division Belgium side Kortrijk are back in training in preparation for next season, a season which they will head into with new owners following the successful sale of the club to Michael Kaminski by the previous co owners Mr. Tan and Mr. Choo, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.
In a bid to have a successful season which will be their sixteenth in a row, the club handed the rein of handling pre season to two interim coaches led by former Nigeria international Joseph Akpala and Jimmy Hempte.
The duo joined the team last season as assistant coaches but they will now handle the team in interim capacity pending when a substantial coach is appointed by the new owners of the team.
Capped nine times by the senior national team of Nigeria, Akpala who was top scorer in the Nigeria Professional Football League becomes the second Nigerian in a space of one week to be appointed as coach of a top division side in Europe.
Lukas Babalola, another Nigerian although born in Denmark was also appointed into the coaching crew of the champions of Czech Republic Sparta Prague. The 26 year old who holds a UEFA coaching license announced his move to the team.
In a post on his Twitter handle, he said his mission in the team is to help them defend the Czech League title as well as win the Cup next season. He will work as match analyst, the same position he occupied while at Danish side Aalborg.
Lukas also worked in the same capacity at another Norwegian side Lyngby BK , where he started his coaching career as a youth team coach before the step up to the main team. His previous head coach job includes handling the youth team of HB Koge and Koge BK respectively.
Sparta Prague will be his first job outside the shores of Denmark where he was born to parents of Nigerian descent. He started coaching way back in 2014.
Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman
