Leyton Orient U16s coach Omer Riza is aiming high

LEYTON ORIENT U16s coach Omer Riza hopes his job at Brisbane Road is the first on the way to a fruitful career in the professional game.

The UEFA A Licence holder is now coaching at League Two side Leyton Orient after a spell as manager of Non-League side Cheshunt.

The former Arsenal trainee spent 11 months as manager of the Ryman Division One North club before being dismissed just four weeks into last season.

Riza, who played in Turkey for Denizlispor and Trabzonspor as well as in the Football League for Barnet, Cambridge United, Shrewsbury Town and Aldershot Town, did pre-season with Harlow Town but now wants to focus on his coaching.

“I’m enjoying it at Leyton Orient,” he said. “My son has been playing at Orient for over a year now and I spoke to some of the coaches there who I played against for Boreham Wood and Chelmsford.

“I told them I was an A Licence coach and at the time I was managing at Cheshunt. The U16s role came up at the start of the year and I was asked if I wanted to go in.

“I held off to begin with because I was still looking for jobs in Non-League. It got to the point where I thought it was the right time and I’ve not regretted it. I’ve got my qualifications and now it’s just about working hard.”